Manama: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani and his Cypriot counterpart Nikos Christodoulides held talks within the framework of the official visit of Nicos Anastasiades, the President of Cyprus, to Bahrain.
The two ministers reviewed the distinguished relations between Bahrain and Cyprus and ways to develop bilateral cooperation in all political, economic and social fields. They also discussed several topics of common interest on regional and international developments.
In a media statement following the talks, Al Zayani praised the results of the official visit of President Nicos Anastasiades to Bahrain, upon an invitation from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
Al Zayani said that HM the King and the Cypriot President, with the participation of the delegations of the two countries, held fruitful talks that reflected the mutual respect relations between both countries.
HM King Hamad and President Anastasiades expressed their common keenness to move forward to strengthen relations and stressed the importance of continuing exchanging visits between senior officials and delegations, the foreign minister said.
Al Zayani added that the two sides also reviewed political and security developments in the region and the challenges facing its countries, as well as ways to deal with issues.
They reaffirmed the need to establish peace in the Middle East, protect its security and stability, and continue bilateral coordination to unify positions in international forums on key issues.
They also stressed the importance of the declaration in support of peace and the principles of the Abraham Accords to achieve the aspirations of the people of the region for security and stability.
Al Zayani indicated that both sides stressed the importance of the Vienna talks on the Iranian nuclear issue, as well as the situation in Afghanistan, the humanitarian needs of its people and the importance of ensuring that Afghanistan does not become a source of instability in the region and a haven for terrorist organisations.
He pointed out that both sides emphasised the potential to develop Bahraini-Cypriot relations in several fields, including trade, investment, tourism, financial technology and renewable energy.
Al Zayani said that a Memorandum of Understanding for Economic and Technical cooperation was signed between both countries, as well as an agreement on exemption from visa for holders of diplomatic, special and service passports.
He added that during his discussions with the Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs, relations between both countries were discussed as well as ways to enhance bilateral cooperation as directed during the meeting of HM King Hamad with President Anastasiades, stressing happiness that there is a wide scope for deepening the partnership between the two countries.
The Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed his happiness to visit Bahrain and meet Al Zayani, pointing out the close and historical relation between the two countries, as they are two islands that form part of a complex but promising region, and ways to strengthen and develop them, as well as relations between Bahrain and the European Union, in addition to regional developments.
Christodoulides said that an agreement on exemption from visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, special and service passports was signed between both countries, stressing the need to advance the fields of joint work towards broader horizons, including diplomatic academies and the continuation of political consultations.
Christodoulides congratulated Bahrain on signing the historic Abraham Accords, which are catalysts for the change being observed in the region, noting that ways for Bahrain to join the trilateral cooperation with Cyprus, Greece and other countries in the region were discussed.
