Hungarian State Secretary for Security Policy and International Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Dr. Istvan Mikola, received Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for International Affairs, Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, who was on a working visit to the Republic of Hungary on September 3-4.
The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for international Affairs conveyed the greetings of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, to the Hungarian Foreign Minister, appreciating the mutual desire to develop various fields of cooperation between the two friendly countries.

Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa stressed the importance of activating the memorandum of understanding for economic and technical cooperation between the two countries signed on February 24th 2014, thus contributing to achieving sustainable development as well as enhancing coordination and consultation in the framework of common interests.

He highlighted Hungary’s prominent position in NATO and the European Union, adding that there is consensus promote political, economic, investment and cultural relations.

For his part, the Hungarian Minister pointed out that his country adopts a new strategy of opening up to the countries of the South and working to strengthen cooperation with partners in the Middle East.

The Undersecretary for International Affairs also met with the Hungarian Foreign Ministry Undersecretary, Szilveszter Bus, in the presence of the Head of the Middle East Department at the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Non-resident Ambassador of Hungary, Ferenc Csillag.

The two sides held the first meeting for political consultations between the two countries’ Ministries of Foreign Affairs, as to implement the agreement signed in September 2011 in New York which aimed at developing partnership between the two countries.

Dr. Shaikh Abdullah briefed the meeting on the comprehensive reform approach of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, noting that the Kingdom is a pioneering example of granting public freedoms and human rights in the Middle East. He also highlighted the Kingdom’s success in establishing an attractive investment environment that goes in line with Bahrain’s economic vision 2030, and the government’s efforts which focus at investing in the human element.

The Foreign Affairs Undersecretary pointed that Qatar violated the conventions it signed in 2013 and 2014, in which it was compelled not to support terrorism nor interfere in the internal affairs of Arab countries, underscoring the danger of supporting terrorist organizations on the international peace and security.

He also affirmed the Kingdom’s keenness in respecting and defending human rights within the framework of the state of institution and law.

For his part, the Hungarian Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs hailed the reforms and development efforts of the Kingdom as an important friendly country in the middle east.

Source:BNA