Bahrain Minister of State of Foreign Affairs, ‘achievements of country in human rights arena to be presented to the world’

Foreign affairs, the corner stone in enhancing Bahrain’s image abroad, says Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
15 May, 2012 – Bahrain News Agency

Manama, May 15 (BNA) — Foreign affairs assumes a greater role in showcasing the Kingdom of Bahrain to the world audience – especially the right picture of the country – after all the negative publicity it received, said the Minister of State of Foreign Affairs, Ghanem Fadhul Al Buainain.

In an interview given to the Bahrain News Agency, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs said that going forward the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a significant role since attempts to sully the good name of the nation is not from within but from external sources.

“It is important at this juncture to correct the picture and at this a greater effort is needed,” the minister said. It is important for the world to see the true picture – the reality — and see it with a clear vision, he added. “The negative media propaganda has cast its slur on the achievements of the nation,” he added.

Asked about the methods being adopted by the ministry to achieve this goal, Al Buainain said that Bahrain has built up friendly relations with many a nation even prior to becoming an independent country. “From our independence to now that number has only been increased and so is the quality of our friendship with many other nations.

We are joining hands with our friends. With this, not only will be able to enhance our image in these countries, but also convince nations outside of the clique the good intentions and the friendly nature of Bahrain the nation,” he added. At this point he looked at the GCC summit in Riyadh and said that he was happy that Bahrain and Saudi Arabia had inked the deal, but he sincerely hoped that all the Gulf Cooperation Council members could have joined in and strengthened the union.

The diplomatic missions, these friendly nations have opened in Bahrain and the foreign missions of Bahrain in those countries are used as channels to bring home the right picture and ensure that the international community sees Bahrain as a friendly nation.

“To my mind the media has a major role to play and I guess the government has pushed on the right track appointing Samira Rajab as Minister of State for Information Affairs.

It is also important to utilize the services of non-governmental agencies (NGOs) – those who are willing to see the clear and true picture and not the one painted in some colour,” said Al Buainain.

He added that here the government took an appropriate step by appointing Dr Salah Ali as the Minister of State for Human Rights.

On May 21, Bahrain will be represented in Geneva at the Human Right workshop entitled ‘Media Empowerment on Human Rights’ and Dr Salah Ali will represent the Bahraini delegation. He will lead a delegation of 14 organisations – that will comprise over 20 people, said the minister of state.

The achievements of the country in human rights arena is to be presented to the world in its true light and Dr Salah is expected to do that, he said. …more