Bahrain Gate from Russia to the Gulf

Military and space relations are continuing and the exchange of experiences is taking place on several levels. In his interview with Sputnik, Bahrain's ambassador to Moscow, Ahmed Abdul Rahman al-Sahati, refutes these developments and reveals new details about what Russian-Brazilian relations can achieve. As well as the future of the Syrian presence in the League of Arab States …

We are on the threshold of important events between the Arab and Russian parties, namely the 12th session of the Arab-Russian Trade Council and the fourth session of the "Arabia Expo" International, in Bahrain, which is still active in activities and events in Russia. Who will participate on the Bahraini side in the Arab Business Council? What are you wearing?

As you know, the Russo-Bahraini Business Council changed its presidency for 20 years by changing the heads of the chambers of commerce of both countries, whose new ruling chamber in Bahrain decided to set up cooperation mechanisms within business council. As these were protocol meetings that a group from Bahrain and a group from Russia attended one day and then succeeded one another, and we found that there was no commercial return on the ground, over the years. years, although the Council has met dozens of times, Develop mechanisms for action While there are no meetings in vain. Meetings of businessmen between the two sides should be prepared and the leaders of the chambers of commerce of the Russian Federation and Bahrain should define the lines of cooperation according to the needs of the two countries and in what areas should be central concerns. I think the axes are now clear, years later: technology, oil and gas, tourism,. We want to focus on these areas and I think the opportunities are promising for Russia and the markets in Bahrain and the Gulf are open. The next meeting, to be held in Moscow, is under preparation.

The exhibition will be followed by the third meeting of the joint government committee created by the two countries about two years ago, chaired by the Minister of Commerce and Industry. The Committee met first in Bahrain, then in Moscow, and will meet again in the Russian capital on April 10th.

Will there be official visits between Bahrain and Russia, especially at the highest level, in the next stage?

Visits Many representatives of several Russian private companies have recently visited Bahrain in the fields of technology, food, banking and oil. On the Bahraini side, there were several visits, including that of the Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for International Affairs, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, who held a consultation meeting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Affairs. 39 is granted on many political and economic issues between the two countries. He also held meetings at the Diplomatic Institute, the University of Hungary and the Russian-Islamic Foundation, which brought together several officials, and showed great understanding. A cooperation protocol was signed between the Center for Strategic Studies, headed by Sheikh Abdullah himself, and the Institute of Oriental Studies of Moscow.

A few days ago, the President and CEO of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority (BTA) was present to attend the exhibition on travel and tourism in Moscow. Sheikh Khalid Hamoud bin Al Khalifa was accompanied by a large pavilion for the public. Sheikh Khaled held a meeting with travel and tourism agencies in Moscow and decided to intensify his cooperation and attract Russian tourists to Bahrain. He also held a meeting with Coral Tourism, a Russian company that has been operating charter flights for more than six months to Bahrain twice a week, carrying 400 passengers a week, with 200 passengers per trip. A large number of Russian citizens went to Bahrain, which is a new destination for Russian tourists, and the short distance between Moscow and Manama, as well as the facilities related to the issuance of visas at the airport, to Competitive prices in Bahrain, set a record at that time, were sold from Russia to the Kingdom of Bahrain, between October 1st and February, and the duration of stay from one to two weeks.

Sheikh Khalid bin Hammoud also urged the Russian company to increase the number of devices. We hope to double the number of flights from two to four weekly flights, as well as the daily flights from Bahrain Air between Moscow and Bahrain. Visits are also organized at the level of private sector managers.

What about other Arab-Russian meetings?

The Russian-Arab dialogue continues each year and once again in Russia and once in the Arab world, the dialogue was held in Abu Dhabi last year in Moscow, attended by several ministers and ministers of business foreign Arabs, Sergey Lavrov. Political and economic problems between the Arab world and Russia. The joint statement of the last meeting was very good: common positions have been identified on all political, military and international issues, which will be held in Moscow at the under-secretaries level and will be followed by a formal meeting at level of Foreign Ministers.

Will the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain be present?

Until now, I have no information about who will attend the meeting, but we will certainly participate in the preparation of this meeting.

Where has the Russian-Bahraini cooperation reached the field of defense? What's up? In the past, Bahrain has expressed the wish to acquire Russian weapons, including the S-400 air defense system."He said.

Military cooperation is directly coordinated between the Ministry of Defense in Bahrain and military officials in Russia, and there are permanent channels between them. But since we do not have a military background, I do not have to go through any hardships, but we still participate in the defense of Moscow, whether at the level of the chief of defense or the officers. Russia also participates in the Bahrain Defense Fair, which takes place every two years.

She also pointed out that Russia had participated in the Bahrain air show last October and that it had a large wing for the plane. She had proposed the Sukhoi and Super Jet planes. There were a number of officials and visitors in the Russian flag, and the team gave Russian air hugs to offer their offers in Bahrain. The offers they made were highly appreciated and admired.

By discussing Russian-Bahraini cooperation in energy and geological research. Last year, a large source of rock gas was discovered in Bahrain, and Russian companies were invited to participate in exploration activities and other activities. What's new in this post? What is the news of this area? When do you plan to start a cooperation agreement with the Russian side?

First of all, we would like to thank the Russian companies for their cooperation and cooperation. We have already received a lot of Russian companies last year and have been looking for information in this area. The Ministry of Petroleum has agreed with a Russian company to carry out a geological survey. Effective cooperation with most major Russian companies allows them to know their potential and expertise in this area. The Bahrain Petroleum Ministry and the company concerned by these areas consult regularly with the Russian side.

For this area, we need a lot of money and investments: a large oil and gas field is a rocky field, so exploration takes time. We hope that in the last four years we will be able to complete the main technical processes. We decided to instruct a global institution to deal with companies wishing to invest in order to evaluate their offers and their costs because it involves complex technical and financial issues.

Moscow and Manama signed a cooperation agreement with Gazprom a few years ago, providing warehouses, warehouses and containers for the storage of liquefied natural gas in Bahrain. In the past, it was reported that these facilities would begin to receive Russian gas in February. Where did this project happen?

We completed the project by building platforms to receive and store the liquefied gas, which is now ready. With regard to the Memorandum of Understanding with Gazprom, it has been agreed to supply the Kingdom with its needs, but these reservoirs require large quantities of gas. Consultations are ongoing with Russian companies to supply these platforms and to form strategic partnerships with us. Because gasoline is now available all over the world, if the show is a sale and a purchase, we can buy in the markets at the best prices, but we want a strategic cooperation with the Russian side, so we are a partnership thanks to which Russia considers these stations as platforms. Gulf, where Nak uses many large gases in the field of energy and factories.

As for Aramco, this is a big company and Saudi Arabia is a big market, and if we agreed with Russia, we could talk to our Gulf partners to get them out of the big stock.

We will soon start dealing with shipments. I think the station will soon open, the station is inaugurated, to test the quality of gas and the efficiency of warehouses.

Where will the first payment come from?

Maybe from the world market, like a little push on the test.

There was a Russian-Bahraini cooperation in space, what's up?

A memorandum of understanding is about to be reached between the Bahrain National Space Agency and the Russian Space Agency. It will soon be signed between the two countries and will cooperate in the field of training, exchange of expertise and space applications for civilian scientific applications. Russia has extensive experience in this area. The Gulf States cooperate with Russia because they have considerable experience. We look forward to signing this memorandum from last year. There is another note between the Space Center of the Moscow University of Friendship and the Space Authority, ready to be signed in the coming days. The cooperation is good and His Majesty is keen to support space cooperation between Russia and Bahrain.

We turn to scientific cooperation and students, knowing that a number of Bahraini students are studying in Russia. Can you give us an overview?

The number is increasing and reaches 170 students. We will see two years after the end of the first group of students. We are satisfied with the study and level, but we are also looking for other specialties, not just medicine. I visited several Russian universities and found excellent services such as the oil sector. The University of Gobekna announced that its cooperation with the Kingdom, whether for the reception of students and perhaps in the future, would open a branch in Bahrain to serve as a regional university serving the region. I went to Moscow University and met the Diplomatic Institute, which has signed a cooperation agreement with the Center for Strategic Studies, as well as with the Diplomatic Academy of Bahrain and with the Diplomatic Institute of Business. Foreign. Russian cooperation being excellent, we hope to dedicate a day at the institute to talk about the kingdom and opportunities and strengthen cooperation with Russia.

At the level of trade between Russia and Bahrain, there was a project to establish a Russian grain distribution center or silos, where did it go?

It's not just among governments, it's part of the private sector that supports the process, and there are those in Bahrain who are creating the center: cooperation with Russia will not only be in this project but perhaps with other countries. Not only imported and distributed products, but also industries such as biscuits, pasta and cereal-based foods. The Bahraini authorities have obtained licenses to enlarge the silos and convert them into an industrial zone of import and export.

But is it different from the cooperation project with Russia?

The Russian project we discussed with the Russian side, but the people involved in this sector in Russia are scattered and there is no central body to take over the subject. There are companies accused of exporting but we want to have a central authority. We asked the Russian Ministry of Commerce to organize these efforts. A hand But the region is vast, vast and promising and needs are glaring. Russian wheat is considered one of the best species in the world and its prices are good, but there is a feasibility study and technical factors that can be a little longer.

Russian companies visit me every day and discover that they have indispensable and attractive products, goods and services. Their prices are twice as low as in the international market, but they have no marketing experience. So we are opening doors in the Gulf region and say to Russian businessmen and businessmen: Bahrain is a gateway to the Gulf because of its proximity to all the countries, from Oman to Kuwait, and we have ports and infrastructure ready to export.I am optimistic about the future of trade cooperation with Russia, especially as the political relations between Russia and the Arab world are very strong. King Salman went to Moscow between the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and President Putin, and has close relations with him, as well as with Amman and Kuwait, in addition to the Arab countries, as well as as Sudanese, Lebanese and Egyptian presidents in Russia. Russia will establish a large industrial area in Egypt, I think the future is promising.

I would like to inform you of Bahrain's participation in the Kazan Economic Summit, to be held at the end of April in Kazan, at the invitation of which a delegation from Bahrain will meet. The Organization of Russia and the Islamic world will hold their meeting in Tatarstan and we are members of this organization and we wish to cooperate with Russia in this area.

With regard to St. Petersburg and the Economic Forum, this forum is one of the most important economic events in Russia and we wish to participate for years. It brings together experts, officials and companies from Russia and around the world. The Kingdom of Bahrain has participated in the past three years with a delegation led by the Prime Minister's advisor. Among the oil companies, banks and the commercial sector, very productive discussions have taken place. This year, a delegation will meet in June under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister's advisor and several representatives of the private sector and government.

Let's move on to political affairs: is there a Russian mediation to resolve the crisis with Qatar?

Of course, there is no mediation from Russia because it does not require mediation, this internal dispute within the Gulf family and the initiative of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, grateful for this effort and supporting his efforts. Of course, we have made clear demands since the beginning of the crisis, but the situation has not changed and it is at the court of officials in Qatar, which, if they want to resolve the situation, have conditions and conditions. requirements in accordance with the principles of international law, in particular non-interference in the internal affairs of the Gulf States. Russia has not offered mediation and we have not asked Russia or any state to intervene in this matter.

We know that the Kingdom of Bahrain has reopened its embassy in Damascus. Is the normalization process of relations with the Syrian government still going on and how do you describe the current relations between Manama and Damascus?

We did not close our embassy in Damascus, but we rehabilitated it after the unfortunate events and the war that took place in Syria. The Syrian embassy in Bahrain has not been closed and the chargé d'affaires is also at the Bahrain embassy, ​​where relations are at the service of the two brotherly peoples.

Do you think relations between Bahrain and Syria are normal?

The Syrian crisis is now an international crisis in the United Nations and the Security Council, and the Secretary-General has made considerable efforts to support the fight against this scourge, but the most important issue, whether for Bahrain or Gulf, is to avoid foreign interference on Syrian soil. Iran and the militias that support it because it is one of the reasons for the continuation of the war so far, and the reasons for the worsening of the crisis and the lack of solutions, because Iran has big goals does not mean the Syrian people, we call for the elimination of the Iranian militia and continue to support the efforts of the UN Secretary-General Geneva and one of the UN resolutions in this regard, and the The need to spare innocent people, refugees and refugees from the horrors of war and to help them as much as possible is now a summary of our policy in the face of the crisis in Syria.

What is Bahrain's position on Syria's return to the League of Arab States, especially when we are on the doorstep of the Tunisian summit, to be held at the end of March?

As we know, the decision to freeze the composition of Syria was taken at the level of the Arab League and at the summit. The decision to dismiss Syria is considered at the top of the League of Arab States. We are still with the unity of the Arab ranks and hope that things will return to normal. We are with the Arab consensus.