Jordanian-Bahraini Joint Higher Committee reaffirms cooperation

AMMAN — At the conclusion of the meetings of the Joint Jordanian-Bahraini Higher Committee held in Manama on Thursday, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh and Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of the Council of Ministers of Bahrain, the two sides issued a final statement.

The statement said that the two sides went over the “close historical” ties between the two kingdoms, which form a unique example of “established brotherhood” based on respect, understanding and matching views on the region's issues and challenges, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

The two sides reviewed the course of cooperation between the two kingdoms and the progress and development they have witnessed. 

They also emphasised the importance of expanding the prospects for cooperation in the economic, trade and investment fields and in supporting the role of the private sector in increasing the volume of trade between the two countries.

The two sides also stressed the importance of promoting cooperation in areas of high economic return, such as industry, agriculture, environment, transport, communications, information technology and the digital economy and the health, education, tourism, culture and ICT sectors.

The two sides stressed the centrality of the Palestinian issue and the need for a just solution, which would meet all legitimate rights of the Palestinian people on the basis of the two-state solution that result in the establishment of the sovereign and independent Palestinian state on the pre-1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital in accordance with relevant resolutions of international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative.

Prince Salman also stressed the importance of the role of the historic Hashemite Custodianship over the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem as a protector of these sites, their identity and the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem.

The two sides also stressed the need to respect the role of the Jordan-run Jerusalem Awqaf and Aqsa Affairs Department as the sole authority authorised to administer the affairs of the Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif, which, in its total area, is a sole place of worship for Muslims alone.

They also reiterated their unequivocal rejection of all measures targeting the Christian presence in Occupied East Jerusalem and seeking to change its historical and legal status quo in the city, including Islamic and Christian properties and awqaf (endowments).

The two sides reiterated their support for Iraq, its security and stability, and commended the role of Jordan in hosting the Baghdad Cooperation and Partnership Conference in its second iteration, as well as Bahrain’s participation in the conference, which reflects the desire of the two countries to support Iraq in protecting its security and stability, reconstruction and comprehensive development.

The Bahraini side also commended the ongoing cooperation among Jordan, Iraq and Egypt within the framework of the trilateral cooperation mechanism.

The two sides praised Bahrain’s joining of the integrated industrial partnership initiative with the UAE, Egypt and Jordan, which is an important step in developing the industrial sector and enabling it to compete globally. This step represents a continuation of established relations among Arab countries, and an opportunity to further enhance partnership and investment opportunities in order to enhance coordination, cooperation and strategic integration among Arab countries.

The two sides also reviewed several regional and international crises and stressed the need to work together to enhance joint Arab action in order to build capacities to deal with all challenges and issues in the region. 

In this regard, they agreed on strengthening their efforts to mobilise the international community to reach political resolutions of the crises in some countries in the region and the world, and reduce the threat of terrorism and extremism, restoring security and stability, preserving the territorial integrity of those countries.

They also stressed the importance of building “friendly and balanced” relations among all countries in the region and respecting countries’ sovereignty and non-interference in their internal affairs, based on international instruments, norms and laws.

The two sides also agreed to hold the sixth session of the Joint Higher Jordanian-Bahraini Committee in 2024, on a date to be determined through diplomatic channels.

Khasawneh expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the warm welcome he and the accompanying delegation received during their visit to Bahrain.