Philia Forum to boost cooperation in energy, digital economy, innovation: Bahrain Foreign Minister

Agencies | Athens

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Energy, digital economy, innovation, and civil protection grabbed the spotlight of the Friendship Forum organised by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Athens, today.

The ministers also expressed their desire to explore the possibilities of increasing cooperation in science, agriculture, food security, education, academic training, interfaith dialogue and culture and sports.

Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, represented Bahrain.

Speaking during a press conference, Dr Al Zayani expressed confidence that the understandings reached in this regard by the countries will lead to good results and achieve the common goals.

He also expressed happiness in the forum, which brought together countries in the region.

Also participating were Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah Al Saud, Egyptian Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry, the UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, Reem AlHashemi, and French Foreign Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, Cypriot Foreign Minister, Nikos Christodoulides, and the official delegations of the participating countries.

Discussions focused on political and security developments and their impact on the security and stability of the region.

Joint statement

In a statement issued, ministers taking part in the forum organised by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed their countries’ joint commitment to international law, including the United Nations Charter, United Nations Security Council Resolutions and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

An agreement was also reached to refer to this forum henceforth as the “Philia Forum - Building Friendship, Peace and Prosperity from the Mediterranean to the Gulf”.

Foreign Ministers of all the participating countries took part in the press conference in Athens, where they thanked the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece Nikos Dendias.

Minister meets counterparts

On the sidelines of the forum, Minister Al Zayani held meetings with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq, Fouad Hussein, his Cypriot counterpart, Nikos Christodoulides, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the brotherly Arab Republic of Egypt, Sameh Shoukry and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Greece, Nikos Dendias.