Friendship and partnership
Bahrain is important partner in the Persian Gulf and the entire Middle East region
Relations between Russia and Bahrain have always been
friendly and mutually beneficial. They demonstrated and demonstrate the high
principles of mutual respect, successful investment partnership, development of
business and cultural prospects. One of the evidence of this is the frequent
meetings of the leaders of the two countries — Vladimir Putin, the president of
Russia, and Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of Bahrain.
The diplomatic relations between Russia and Bahrain were established on the
level of Embassies on 29 September 1990. The Ambassador of the USSR presented
his credentials in Manama on 30 July 1991, the Ambassador of Bahrain presented
his credentials in Moscow in February 1992. And since that time friendly and
business relations have actively developed between countries, including in the
field of strengthening the defense capability.
One example of mutual partnership is the ratification of an important
international instrument — Agreement between Russia and Bahrain on encouragement
and mutual protection of capital investment. Vladimir Putin signed this Federal
Law On the Ratification of the Agreement Between the Government of the Russian
Federation and the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain on the Encouragement and
Mutual Protection of Capital Investment on November, 2015.
The agreement drafted with due regard to modern contractual practice, Russian
law and international standards in the area of concern was signed in Moscow on
May 27, 2016, with the aim of developing international legal framework of the
Russia-Bahrain cooperation in extradition matters.
Under the agreement, the parties undertake, on a reciprocal basis, to extradite,
upon request of either party, individuals who committed crimes and are located
on the other party’s territory, for criminal prosecution or execution of a
sentence in the requesting country. The agreement sets forth the extradition
terms and requirements for the format and content of an extradition request as
well as the request processing order.
The leaders of the two countries constantly discuss the principles laid down in
the basis of this document at meetings. For example, on September, 2016 Vladimir
Putin met with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain in the Kremlin, Moscow.
Within the framework of that meeting in the presence of the heads of state,
intergovernmental agreements were signed on the establishment of the
Intergovernmental Russian-Bahraini Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and
Technological Cooperation, and on military cooperation. Memorandums of
understanding were also signed to expand cooperation in the sphere of liquefied
natural gas and strengthen partnership in geophysical research in oil and
natural gas exploration and production.
The King of Bahrain is in Russia on a working visit during which he visited the
Army-2016 international military technology forum and acquainted himself with
Russian defence industry products.
President of Russia Vladimir Putin said that times: ‘Your Majesty, welcome to
Russia. I am pleased to see you. I hope that your visit this time will be as
productive as our previous meeting. We discussed a whole host of opportunities
for expanding our collaboration. I know that this time you wanted to see our
defence industry capabilities. I hope that you have been able to see what we can
offer our friends and partners. Your Majesty, I would also like to know your
opinion about what you saw today.
And naturally, it is very important today to talk about your view of what is
going on in the region. I had an opportunity in China to discuss these issues
with some of our colleagues from the region. In this connection, Your Majesty’s
visit is very timely and I am happy to see you. Welcome to Russia!’
King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain said: ‘Mr. President, thank you for the
invitation and for your warm welcome. I would like to convey to you the best
wishes of the people of Bahrain. Today, we were pleased to visit an exhibition
featuring the latest models of advanced weapon systems. The Deputy Prime
Minister Dmitry Rogozin and the Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu gave us a very
warm welcome.
Indeed, we would like to get a closer look at your modern products, your arms
manufacturing complex. And naturally, taking this into account, we build our
relations in accordance with our needs. And, glory to God, everything that we
agreed on earlier is being put into practice. However, of course, we, Russia and
Bahrain, would like to set even more objectives for ourselves. Mr President, you
and your leadership, your Government are held in high regard in the region and
throughout the world. And we thank you».
At another meeting of the two leaders (in Sochi, Russia) Vladimir Putin said to
Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa: ‘Your Majesty, friends, let me wish you a warm welcome
to Russia. I want to thank you for accepting our invitation. I recall that we
met together here 18 months ago and mapped out some plans for developing our
bilateral relations. The economic situation is difficult right now, but we
nevertheless continue developing the mechanisms needed to expand our
cooperation.
Bahrain is one of our important partners in the Persian Gulf and the entire
Middle East region. We are very happy to see our friends here and have this
chance to discuss our bilateral relations and examine the situation in the
world, particularly in the region, of course. Welcome!’
King of Bahrain Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa said: ‘Mr President, thank you for this
invitation. This is an important and welcome opportunity to discuss and exchange
views on strengthening our bilateral relations and matters concerning our common
interests, and to discuss matters concerning the Middle East and the entire
world. Regarding the challenges and the economic situation, we perhaps do not
have the full picture yet, but cooperation between countries can help us all to
overcome the current difficulties.
We therefore welcome the chance to work together with Russia under your
leadership, Mr President, and this is the common desire of all countries in our
region. Thank you very much.’
It is interesting to recall that the Russian president and the King of Bahrain
had met in Sochi before — for example, in October 2014. during that meeting,
Vladimir Putin noted: ‘Next year will mark 25 years since our countries
established diplomatic relations. I am very happy to see that the ties between
Russia and Bahrain have developed over this time and that we now have regular
and ongoing contacts. Your Majesty, I am very pleased to have this chance to
discuss our bilateral relations with you and talk about the situation in the
region. I hope that you will like the way we have organised the Formula One
competition, which Russia is hosting for the first time ever.’
King of Bahrain Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa answered: ‘I am very pleased to have
taken up this invitation to visit Russia and I note your hospitality and the
excellent organisation of my visit and the reception I have been given. This is
nothing surprising given your level, Mr President, and the heritage that we have
in our bilateral relations. We cooperate in many different fields, including in
culture and the economy, and you could say that our relations have a strategic
nature.
Indeed, Russia and Bahrain are really very close and it took us only three hours
to get here. I must say too what a beautiful place Sochi is. It is really very
good, an excellent resort. I will tell my brothers and my colleagues in Bahrain
and recommend that they also come here and see it for themselves.’