New York: Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, attended a meeting at the United Nations headquarters in New York with member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), organised by the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Nations. The meeting was held in support of the Kingdom of Bahrain's candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2026-2027 term, ahead of the General Assembly vote scheduled for June.
According to Bahrain News Agency, Dr. Al Zayani delivered a speech in which he expressed appreciation to the permanent representatives of the OIC member states for their presence and ongoing support for Bahrain in this endeavour. He emphasised Bahrain's commitment to defending common Islamic causes within the Security Council and commended the efforts made by the OIC members currently serving on the Security Council to defend Arab and Islamic issues, highlighting that the Kingdom will continue to build on these efforts.
He noted that, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the dedicated work of the government led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Bahrain continues to support the vision of a secure, stable, and interconnected Middle East. He underlined the need for unity, solidarity, and enhanced collective action to overcome challenges and reach meaningful solutions to common issues.
Dr. Al Zayani underscored that achieving a just and sustainable peace in the Middle East, based on internationally recognised references, remains a consistent demand of Arab and Islamic countries. He recalled that this position has been emphasised in regional and international forums, including the Arab-Islamic summit held in Riyadh in November 2024, and the Arab Summit hosted by Bahrain in May 2024. The latter adopted the Kingdom's initiative calling for an international peace conference to establish a sovereign Palestinian state and secure its full membership in the United Nations.
He said that Bahrain views its membership on the Security Council as a pivotal opportunity to cooperate with countries in promoting international peace and stability. He highlighted that Bahrain will give priority in the Council to the issues of the Arab and Islamic world, foremost among them the Palestinian cause. He noted that the Kingdom will work to ensure the Security Council fulfils its responsibilities in maintaining international peace and security and advancing political solutions to the conflicts and crises affecting the region.
The minister added that Bahrain is committed to promoting inclusive dialogue in line with the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law. During its membership, the Kingdom will seek to amplify the voices and positions of Islamic countries. Dr. Al Zayani noted that Bahrain recognises the importance of addressing traditional and emerging threats to international peace and security. He highlighted that Bahrain's priorities in the council include enhancing international cooperation to protect critical infrastructure, countering cybercrime, maintaining maritime security as a key factor in safeguarding trade routes and combating piracy, and addressing terrorism and its root causes by disrupting its financing.
He added that Bahrain firmly believes in the importance of inclusivity in security, and will continue advocating for the effective participation of women and youth in international decision-making, particularly in conflict prevention, resolution, and post-conflict reconstruction. The minister emphasised the urgent need for the Security Council to adapt and remain effective in responding to growing global conflicts and challenges. He underscored Bahrain's commitment to working with other council members to enhance working methods and ensure readiness to address current and future issues, with the goal of achieving lasting peace and security.
He concluded by emphasising Bahrain's readiness to play a meaningful and positive role as a non-permanent member of the Security Council. Through cooperation and coordination with both permanent and non-permanent members, the Kingdom aims to contribute to building a future defined by peace, cooperation, and prosperity. The permanent representatives of the OIC countries thanked Bahrain for organising this important meeting. They expressed their confidence in the competence and capability of Team Bahrain to assume political responsibility as a non-permanent member of the Security Council and achieve its priorities during its term. They wished the Kingdom continued success.
The meeting was attended by Shaikh Abdullah bin Ali Al Khalifa, Director General of Bilateral Relations; Jamal Fares Al Rowaiei, Bahrain's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York; Saeed Abdul Khaliq Saeed, Director of the Coordination and Follow-up Sector; and Hatem Abdulhameed Hatem, Chief of the Organisations Sector at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.