Speaker, Foreign Minister deplore Qatar's irresponsible conduct, blatant interference

Speaker of the Council of Representatives, Fawzia bint Abdulla Zainal, has underlined the Representatives Council’s full support for the government’s plan to repatriate Bahraini citizens abroad in accordance with the necessary precautionary measures to safeguard the health and safety of everyone, as well as for the implementation of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s directives to take all preventive and precautionary measures to combat Coronavirus (COVID-19).

She lauded the efforts of the government, led by His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the endeavours of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, and those of all the members of the Team Bahrain.

The speaker expressed the Representatives Council’s rejection and denunciation of the “irresponsible” measures taken by the competent Qatari authorities towards Bahraini travellers, as well as the fallacies included in the statement of the Government Communications Office in Qatar.

She affirmed the solidarity and cohesion of the Bahraini people with the leadership of HM King Hamad, and stressed the ability of Bahrain to overcome all the current challenges and circumstances, noting that Bahraini citizens enjoy all kinds of care and interest from their country’s government and institutions, and that the return of Bahrainis abroad is a national priority for both the legislative and executive branches.

Foreign Minister, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, said that the executive and legislative branches are working together to attain more achievements, through their constant cooperation for the best interests of the nation and the citizens, especially amid the current extraordinary circumstances the entire world is facing after the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and its designation as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation.

Combating the pandemic has required concerted national efforts to protect the safety and health of everyone, which reflects the people’s unity and cohesion behind the leadership of HM the King, and embodies the efforts of the government, led by HRH Premier, and those made by HRH the Crown Prince, the minister said.

The stances were made during a meeting between a number of ministers and the Representatives Council’s Bureau, chaired by Speaker Fawzia bint Abdulla Zainal.

The joint meeting discussed the national plan to repatriate Bahraini citizens abroad.

The Foreign Minister asserted that Bahrain will continue the implementation of its plan to evacuate Bahraini citizens wishing to return home, especially those in Iran, according to scheduled direct flights to the kingdom, while following the rules and the necessary precautionary measures to protect the health and safety of travellers, plane crew members and the employees of airports and work teams.

Dr. Al-Zayani expressed the kingdom’s denunciation of the irresponsible measures taken by the relevant authorities in Qatar, through transporting Bahraini citizens from Iran without any pre-coordination with the competent authorities in Bahrain, and without taking the necessary preventive measures to ensure their safety, as well as those of the crew and other passengers, as recommended by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The Foreign Minister indicated that the competent authorities in the kingdom are constantly contacting the relevant parties to facilitate the return of Bahraini citizens who are still in Mashhad, through coordinated direct flights from Mashhad to Bahrain, after receiving the permission of the Civil Aviation authorities and taking the necessary precautionary measures adopted by the kingdom to deal with COVID-19 , and those in force while receiving returnees to protect the health and safety of the citizens, residents and passengers.

The minister expressed the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s condemnation of the statement issued by the Government Communications Office in Qatar, and the fallacies included therein, as they are rejected and reflect hidden intentions.

Dr. Al-Zayani stressed that the Qatari conduct represents a blatant interference in the kingdom’s domestic affairs, and a rejected stance aimed at causing harm to the kingdom and undermining the solid national unity showcased through the COVID-19 crisis.

Health Minister, Faeqa bint Said Al-Saleh, stressed that the Ministry of Health and its medical teams are in frontline of efforts to ensure the safety and health of all citizens and residents, through the implementation of the world-standard precautionary and preventive measures.

She cited the increase of medical competencies and raising the capacity of the treatment and quarantine centres, noting that the Ministry has benefited from the efforts of volunteers and experts in various medical fields, which, she said,  reflects the awareness and patriotic sense and Bahrainis.

She also affirmed that the Health Ministry has maintained constant contacts with the World Health Organisation to be informed about its recommendations on ways to curb the spread of COVID-19.