Manama: His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa received at Gudaibiya Palace today President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, and his accompanying delegation on the occasion of his visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain. Upon arrival at Gudaibiya Palace, the Serbian President was welcomed with the official reception protocols. The anthems of both countries were also played. The Serbian President and his accompanying delegation were also welcomed by Personal Representative of HM the King HH Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of HM the King for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sport HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa and members of the Bahraini delegation.
HM the King delivered the following welcome speech:
“In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,
Your Excellency,
Peace, mercy and blessings of God be upon you.
It is a pleasure to welcome you, Your Excellency, as an honored guest and a dear friend of the Kingdom of Bahrain, given the good relations between our two friendly countries, as we eagerly look forward together to strengthening and developing these ties in various fields to advance our common interests. We in the Kingdom of Bahrain believe your visit to our country to be a valuable and historic one, and we are pleased that you are the first president of the friendly Republic of Serbia to make such a visit, which we see as an important indication of the depth of our ties, based on mutual respect and appreciation.
Your Excellency,
Your visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain is an outstanding opportunity for us to establish a strong framework for political consultations and to continue coordination on regional and international issues of common interest. We look forward to implementing this through a memorandum of understanding between the two countries’ foreign ministries, and the working mechanisms to be agreed upon, God willing. This blessed step on the road to further fruitful cooperation is an ideal occasion to discuss ways to develop our joint action in the economic and commercial fields, as well as in tourism, agriculture and investment in natural resources. We do so with the aim of advancing our common interests and strengthening our international positions for the benefit of our two countries, and by contributing to the prosperity and peace of the world. In conclusion, we welcome you once again, Excellency, wishing you a pleasant stay in your second country, the Kingdom of Bahrain. So welcome, esteemed guests … and may God’s peace and blessings be upon you.”
The President of Serbia gave the following speech:
“Your Majesty,
Allow me to extend to you my profound gratefulness and appreciation for your cordial welcoming words and warm reception which I was able to experience as of the first moment I had arrived to your beautiful and friendly country. The Kingdom of Bahrein is a country that is geographically far from Serbia but a country that is close to our hearts and a country that provided unselfish and prompt support in moments of need, by sending us significant amounts of medical assistance last January and this is something that we will never forget. My visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain is an indicator of continuation of cherishing ties of friendship and good relations, but even beyond that, it is a window of numerous opportunities for cooperation to the prosperity and benefit of our two countries and our nations. We are committed and devoted to further deepening of political and economic relations between the Republic of Serbia and the Kingdom of Bahrein and I am looking forward to fruitful discussions on various matters.
Your Majesty,
I avail myself of this opportunity to underline how honored and privileged I would be if you would accept my invitation to visit the Republic of Serbia and if I would be given the opportunity to host you in Belgrade and that you-as a dear guest of our country-would be able to experience famous and traditional Serbian hospitality. Once these difficult and gloomy times filled with uncertainties, caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic are behind us, I truly hope and believe that we will be able to put in practice all the mechanisms we find appropriate and suitable for achieving common goals but also for contributing to global good, prosperity and wellbeing. Thank you, once again, for welcoming us to your beautiful country and please accept, Your Majesty, the assurances of mu highest consideration.”
Then, HM the King held discussions with the President of Serbia and reviewed with him relations of friendship and cooperation between both countries, mainly in the economic, commercial, investment, cultural and tourism fields. Both leaders also exchanged views on the latest regional and international developments and the efforts made by both countries to deal with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and contain its fallout. HM the King held a lunch banquet in honor of the Serbian President and his accompanying delegation. The Mission of Honor was formed under the presidency of Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani.
