Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, affirmed the Kingdom of Bahrain’s commitment, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and with the support of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to strengthening multilateral co-operation, upholding international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter, and consolidating its strategic partnership with the United Nations and its agencies, in order to achieve collective aspirations for peace, security, and sustainable prosperity.

He expressed Bahrain’s pride that the work of this session coincides with the Kingdom’s election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2026–2027 term, and underlined that Bahrain’s vision, under the leadership of His Majesty the King, for regional and global peace, coexistence, and prosperity, is rooted in its historical and civilisational heritage, human values, and balanced diplomatic approach, in full alignment with the principles of the UN Charter and international law.

The Minister noted that the Kingdom of Bahrain remains committed to peaceful solutions to conflicts, particularly in the Middle East, calling for a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the protection of civilians, the release of hostages and detainees, the expediting of humanitarian aid, and the implementation of the Arab and Islamic plan for recovery and reconstruction in the Strip.

He added that Bahrain calls for negotiations and diplomatic solutions as the path to resolving the Palestinian issue in line with international law and the UN Charter, urging the international community to respond to the initiative endorsed by the 33rd Arab Summit – the “Bahrain Summit” – to convene an international peace conference in the Middle East, leading to a comprehensive and sustainable settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict through direct negotiations.

This came in the statement of the Kingdom of Bahrain, delivered today by the Minister of Foreign Affairs before the United Nations General Assembly. Below is the full text of the statement:

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,

Your Excellency Annalena Baerbock, President of the United Nations General Assembly,

Your Excellency the Secretary-General of the United Nations,

Ladies and Gentlemen, distinguished delegates,

May the peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you,

It gives me great pleasure to congratulate You, Excellency, on your election as President of this session of the General Assembly, wishing you every success in managing its work. I would like to thank His Excellency the Secretary-General, Mr. António Guterres, for his tireless efforts to strengthen the role of the United Nations in addressing contemporary international issues.

Madam President,

This 80th Session of the General Assembly is convened with the world facing accelerating transformations and complex challenges, including geopolitical tensions, armed conflicts, climate change, and major political and economic crises, all of which have grave humanitarian repercussions. This situation requires collective effort to strengthen international solidarity, to entrench dialogue and understanding, and to uphold international law, for a brighter future for humanity.

In this context, the Kingdom of Bahrain, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and with the support of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, reaffirms its commitment to strengthening multilateral cooperation, upholding international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter, and deepening its strategic partnership with the United Nations and its agencies, in order to fulfill our shared aspirations for peace, security, and sustainable prosperity.

The work of this session coincides with my country’s election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the coming two years, with 99.5% of votes in the General Assembly – a precious expression of international confidence that we highly value, and we thank all countries on their support and confidence. My country also looks forward to hosting the forthcoming GCC Summit this December, thereby reinforcing its role as a key partner in advancing regional and international peace, security, and coexistence, within stable, sustainable, and prosperous societies.

From this standpoint, the Kingdom of Bahrain sets forth its vision, under the leadership of His Majesty the King, for regional and global peace, coexistence, and prosperity. This vision is deeply-rooted in our historical and civilizational heritage, our human values, and our balanced diplomatic approach, and is aligned with the principles of the UN Charter and international law. We firmly believe in peace, and that any conflict can only find a lasting solution through direct negotiations, political will, and a spirit of compromise. For this reason, we welcome all sincere initiatives for mediation and dialogue, in the conviction that diplomacy is the only path to end the cycles of death and destruction and to shape a future that future generations can inherit with dignity and hope.

The Kingdom of Bahrain seeks to advance this vision through the following main pillars:

Firstly, a commitment to peaceful solutions to conflicts, especially in the Middle East. The Kingdom of Bahrain calls for a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the protection of civilians, the release of hostages and detainees, expediting the sustained delivery of humanitarian aid, the implementation of the Arab and Islamic plan for recovery and reconstruction in the strip, and the firm rejection of any forced displacement schemes, settlement expansion, or attempts to alter the historical and religious status quo of Jerusalem, a city that has embraced divine faiths throughout history.

My country warns of the repercussions of the war in Gaza on regional stability and global interests, and condemned the Israeli attack on the State of Qatar, which has long played a recognized role in mediation, together with the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United States of America, to achieve a lasting ceasefire in Gaza and secure the release of hostages and detainees.

Accordingly, my country calls for negotiations and diplomatic solutions as the path to resolving the Palestinian issue in line with international law and the UN Charter, and urges the international community to respond to the initiative of His Majesty the King – endorsed by the 33rd Arab Summit, the “Bahrain Summit” – calling for an international peace conference in the Middle East, leading to a comprehensive and sustainable solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict through direct negotiations.

The Kingdom of Bahrain welcomes the decision of the General Assembly to endorse the “New York Declaration” on the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian question and the implementation of the two-state solution, and we commend the growing international recognition of the State of Palestine, and the efforts undertaken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the French Republic in this regard.

Bahrain further emphasizes the need for peaceful solutions to the crises in Syria, Lebanon, Sudan, Libya, Yemen, Somalia, and beyond, in a manner that guarantees their sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, and secures their peoples’ rights to stability and sustainable development. This approach is based on the principles of good neighbourliness, non-interference in internal affairs, and the rejection of the use or threat of force.

The Kingdom also affirms the importance of joint action to rid the Middle East of weapons of mass destruction, spare it the risks of an arms race and military escalation, and calls for the resumption of US-Iranian negotiations to resolve the Iranian nuclear file, in a manner that promotes global peace and security.

The second pillar is the promotion of a culture of peace, tolerance, coexistence, and dialogue between religions and cultures, in line with the principles of the “Kingdom of Bahrain Declaration” on freedom of religion and belief, and calls for an international convention to combat hate speech, racism, and the misuse of digital platforms to incite extremism, radicalism and terrorism.

The third pillar of the Kingdom of Bahrain’s vision relates to strengthening international strategic partnerships for security, peace, and prosperity. In this regard, we take pride in the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (C-SIPA) signed with the United States of America, and the United Kingdom, which His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister described as “a launching point for a multilateral framework that brings together like-minded states to achieve stability and prosperity, and an effective model of a comprehensive vision based on mutual respect and common goals.”

My country seeks to enhance partnerships with states, organisations and regional and international groupings in order to combat terrorism, strengthen cybersecurity, and ensure food and water security, promote digital innovation, and artificial intelligence, with the aim of providing a safe, stable, prosperous and sustainable environment.

The fourth pillar reaffirms my country’s commitment to strengthening international cooperation for sustainable development and humanitarian solidarity, including tackling poverty around the world. The Royal Humanitarian Foundation undertakes the implementation of numerous health, education, and relief projects worldwide. The Kingdom is also pursuing the implementation of its initiative, endorsed by the “Bahrain Summit”, to provide health and education assistance to those affected by conflicts in the region, in support of the Sustainable Development Goals, and to ensure that no one is left behind.

The Kingdom of Bahrain, proud of its fruitful cooperation with the United Nations, reaffirms its commitment to sharing its experience as a leading model of reform and constant development, legislative modernization, and a homeland of tolerance, peaceful coexistence, religious freedom and humanitarian work.

We are proud that reform and development have not been mere slogans, but have become a reality experienced by the Bahraini citizen. Our youth are leading digital innovation, our women are assuming leadership positions, and our society presents a model of coexistence and pluralism. Our Government’s goal has always been to ensure for our citizens a dignified life in housing, work, education, and health, believing that human dignity is the foundation of national prosperity. This same spirit, we believe, should be the starting point for building a more cooperative and stable region.

We have strengthened the rule of law and constitutional institutions, and made notable progress across all areas of human rights, and we take pride in our pioneering initiatives such as alternative sentencing measures, open prisons, a special court for children, supportive programmes for women, families, and children, and an advanced legislative system. Our economy continues to diversify away from oil, with a growing contribution from non-oil sectors and increasing foreign investment reflecting growing international confidence. In the digital sphere, Bahrain ranks among global leaders in innovation, digital transformation, and cybersecurity, and in his address before the General Assembly last year, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister called for the adoption of an international convention to regulate and govern the development of artificial intelligence.

My country takes pride in the abilities and competence of its youth, having adopted numerous pioneering initiatives to empower them, such as the King Hamad Award for Youth Empowerment in partnership with the United Nations, and the launch of the Global Youth Competitiveness support network, ‘The Hope Network’. Likewise, we support the advancement of women through the launch of the HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa Global Award for Women’s Empowerment, now in its third edition, in addition to our membership in the Executive Board of UN Women for the coming three years.

In the environmental field, we reaffirm our commitment to achieving net-zero carbon neutrality by 2060, through investment in clean energy and green technologies.

Madam President,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

What Bahrain is building domestically in terms of reform and sustainability is an extension of our broader global vision: building a more just, tolerant, and sustainable society at home is a direct contribution to creating a more stable and secure Middle East, and a more cooperative and equitable world.

From here, the Kingdom of Bahrain renews its commitment to the United Nations Charter and to strengthening cooperation with the Organization through the Strategic Partnership Framework for Sustainable Development. signed with more than 21 UN agencies. As His Majesty the King underlined in his message on the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, Bahrain takes pride in its membership, and is determined to achieve shared humanitarian and development goals, and to strengthen strategic partnerships for a future of peace, justice, and prosperity for all peoples.

From this standpoint, my country calls for the reform of the United Nations system, to enhance its effectiveness, transparency, and to ensure the representation of developing countries in decision-making. During its upcoming non-permanent membership of the Security Council, my country is committed to promoting dialogue, building bridges of peace, consolidating tolerance and coexistence, supporting the protection and promotion of human rights, advancing sustainable development, and enhancing the Council’s efficiency in addressing global challenges.

The decisions we take in this session do not only shape our present, but will determine the fate of generations yet unborn. Will they inherit a world torn apart by conflict and division? Or a homeland of peace, prosperity, and human cooperation? Let us work together to realise the essence of this session’s theme, “Better Together” and rise to the human values enshrined in the UN Charter. Let us make this 80th Session of the General Assembly a turning point toward a more just and humane international order, with peace that upholds dignity and fulfils the aspirations of our peoples, and prosperity that secures our shared future.

The coming generations deserve a world that embraces their dreams, unrestrained by fear and unburdened by conflict. We pray to Almighty God to guide us all to outcomes which bring goodness and progress for all humanity, in a world that is safer, more just, more sustainable, and more prosperous.

Thank you. Peace be upon you.