Athens: His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa met with His Excellency Constantine An. Tassoulas, President of the Hellenic Republic, at the Presidential Mansion in Athens during His Majesty's visit to the Hellenic Republic. The meeting served as a platform to discuss the enhancement of Bahrain-Greece relations and address regional and international issues.
According to Bahrain News Agency, upon the King's arrival, President Tassoulas welcomed him warmly, acknowledging that the visit would significantly contribute to the strengthening of ties between Bahrain and Greece. King Hamad expressed gratitude for the hospitality and shared his hopes for the development of bilateral relations.
During the discussions, the leaders reviewed existing bilateral relations and explored ways to advance cooperation across various domains to benefit both nations. They also addressed regional and international issues of mutual interest, with a focus on recent developments in the Middle East.
A key topic of conversation was the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation and the security of waterways, particularly the Strait of Hormuz and Bab Al Mandab. Both leaders emphasized that any arrangements concerning these strategic areas should adhere to international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to ensure the smooth functioning of international trade and supply chains.
In his speech, King Hamad highlighted the shared historical ties between Bahrain and Greece, dating back to ancient times, and expressed his nation's commitment to dialogue among cultures and religions as a path to peace and coexistence. He also praised Greece's principled stance based on international law and expressed a desire to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.
President Tassoulas reciprocated the sentiments, reaffirming the strong foundations of mutual respect and friendship between the two nations. He expressed solidarity with Bahrain in light of recent challenges and condemned attacks carried out by Iran against Bahrain. Tassoulas highlighted Greece's commitment to ensuring freedom of navigation and stability in the region, mentioning the role of the Greek Navy in the Red Sea through Operation ASPIDES.
Both leaders affirmed their commitment to enhancing their strong relations and expanding cooperation to support common interests. They also expressed their support for efforts aimed at achieving security, stability, prosperity, and peace in the Middle East.
At the conclusion of the meeting, King Hamad extended an invitation to President Tassoulas to visit the Kingdom of Bahrain, underscoring the continuous effort to deepen bilateral relations.