Manama: Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Dean of the Arab Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Kingdom, chaired a meeting of the Council of Arab Ambassadors to the United Kingdom, which hosted Stephen Doughty, Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed stressed the importance of continuing dialogue and coordination between the Arab countries and the United Kingdom on various regional and international issues of mutual interest.
According to Bahrain News Agency, Stephen Doughty affirmed the United Kingdom Government's commitment to continuing to strengthen its relations and strategic partnerships with the Arab countries across various fields. He stressed the importance of dialogue and coordination with Arab Ambassadors regarding developments in the region, noting the UK Government's commitment to supporting efforts aimed at achieving security and stability.
During the meeting, the participants discussed a number of regional issues, including the Palestinian cause. The Ambassadors welcomed the steps taken by the United Kingdom to introduce national restrictions on trade in goods with illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza, in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 (2016), and expressed their appreciation for the United Kingdom's efforts in this regard.
The meeting also addressed developments in Yemen, Lebanon, Sudan, and Iran, as well as a number of issues related to regional security and maritime security. The participants further discussed prospects for strengthening cooperation between the United Kingdom and the Arab countries.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the participants stressed the importance of maintaining communication and holding regular meetings between the Council of Arab Ambassadors to the United Kingdom and the UK Government, in a manner that strengthens consultation and coordination on regional and international issues and advances the shared interests of the Arab countries and the United Kingdom.