27th July 2005
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and The Kingdom of Bahrain have a strong, warm and longstanding relationship, rooted in our friendship over the years and in the 1971 Friendship Treaty.
The United Kingdom and Bahrain are committed to maintaining this warm friendship and to continuing to work closely together in the years to come.
In the face of the recent, terrible terrorist attacks in London, the United Kingdom and Bahrain condemn unreservedly acts of terrorism wherever they occur. The United Kingdom and Bahrain recognise that only a comprehensive and global approach to combating the threat posed by international terrorism will be successful. Both sides are committed to working together to this end and hope to sign shortly a Memorandum of Understanding on counter terrorism co-operation.
Both sides will also work hard to ensure that the voice of mainstream Islam is heard, world-wide. We reject the perversion of the peaceful religion of Islam which seeks to justify terrorism. The United Kingdom and Bahrain welcome the positive contribution of British Muslims to all aspects of British life.
The Prime Minister welcomed the decision by the Kingdom of Bahrain to host the second 'IISS Gulf Dialogue' in Bahrain, 2-4 December 2005, organised by the London based International Institute for Strategic Studies, given the opportunities such a Dialogue offers participating governments to consult and further develop sound policies for the future of regional security.
The United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Bahrain enjoy an active trade and investment relationship. Bilateral trade was worth nearly £230 million in 2004 and there was a healthy two-way flow of investment. The United Kingdom welcomes the creation of the Bahrain Investor's Centre and other measures Bahrain is taking to facilitate investment in Bahrain and strengthen the economic, labour, legal and planning environment for business and investment.
Bahrain is taking a leading role in the region in the area of political reform, in which all political societies are urged to participate in the future election. Bahrain and the United Kingdom have been working together on parliamentary capacity building, and will continue to develop this co-operation.
The United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Bahrain agree on the importance of supporting locally-led reform to overcome the challenges facing the region and securing a prosperous future for its youth. The Kingdom of Bahrain will host the second Forum for the Future meeting in November to further advance the partnership between the G8 and the broader Middle East and North Africa.
The United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Bahrain will use their respective Presidencies of the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council to promote greater cooperation, including the conclusion of an EU-GCC Free Trade Agreement.
The United Kingdom and Bahrain welcome the Communiqué issued by the International Conference on Iraq held in Brussels on 22 June as signalling the united support of the international community for the Iraqi Transitional Government and the political process in Iraq. We share the goal of a unified, prosperous, democratic Iraq, living in peace with its neighbours.
The United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Bahrain fully agree that the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction poses a major threat to international and regional peace and security, (and) therefore they support the agreement reached by the E3/EU with Iran in November 2004, and all agreements related to this issue.
The United Kingdom and Bahrain commit to supporting the Palestinian Authority's efforts to build the institutions of a future Palestinian State.
The United Kingdom and Bahrain welcome the work of Quartet Special Envoy for Disengagement, James Wolfensohn. Israel's disengagement plan is a positive step towards achieving the two-state vision envisaged by the Roadmap. This withdrawal from Gaza should be complete and be undertaken in a manner consistent with the Road Map.
The United Kingdom and Bahrain re-affirm our commitment to achieving a resolution of this conflict based on the creation of a viable, democratic and territorially contiguous Palestine, living side by side in peace and security with a safe and secure Israel.
