‘Affirm commitment to unity, tolerance’

Manama : Bahrain yesterday marked its 46th National Day with His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa leading the celebrations in the Sakhir Palace. 

HM the King arrived at the ceremony accompanied by a constellation of cavalry as the artillery fired twenty-one rounds to salute His Majesty. 

In his speech, His Majesty the King told the nation that there is “no better occasion than this to affirm our commitment to our national principles based on unity, depth of belonging and tolerance of coexistence, which protect Bahrain against the forces of destruction and division.”

King Hamad stressed that this is an occasion to renew the pledge of loyalty to the sacrifices of the martyrs of the homeland, “who came to its aid and gave their souls to defend its sovereignty”.

“Today, Bahrain is at the forefront of the global development race according to performance indicators in all fields of work,” said HM the King adding:  “This is an incentive which makes us, with God’s help, advance with the same strength and determination to continue the blessed journey of our development.”

Shortly after the speech HM the King conferred medals of appreciation on national work pioneers.

The celebrations mark the anniversary of the establishment of the modern state of Bahrain as an Arab and Muslim country in 1783 by its founder Ahmed Al-Fateh, the 46th Anniversary of its accession to the UN as a full member and the 18th Anniversary of HM the King’s Accession to the Throne. His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, and the Malaysian Prime Minister, Haji Mohammad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak, were present.

The Malaysian Prime Minister extended sincere congratulations to HM King Hamad on the glorious National Days, wishing Bahrain and its people further progress and prosperity. 

Najib began his three-day official visit with an audience with King Hamad at Shaikh Hamad palace earlier, during which he was honoured with the King Hamad Order of the Renaissance of the First Class. 

His Majesty also conferred the Bahrain Medal of the First Class on the Malaysian Defence Minister, Hishammuddin Hussein during the ceremony. 

King Hamad, who visited Malaysia in April this year, lauded the agreements and memoranda of understanding signed on the sidelines of his visit.