Euro-Gulf Information Centre

 

Kingdom of Bahrain
 

Wednesday, 14 November—Chairwoman of Bahrain’s National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR), Maria Khoury, received the Head of Political Section of the European Union Delegation to Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Alexis Konstantopoulos, in the presence of NIHR’s Vice-Chairman, Abdulla Ahmed Isa Al-Derazi, and NIHR’s Secretary-General, Khalifa Bin Ali Al-Fadhel. They discussed Bahrain’s upcoming parliamentary and municipal elections, to be held on 24 November, and NIHR’s observation role to guarantee their fairness and integrity. Mr Konstantopoulos supports Bahrain’s democratic reforms as manifest through regular elections.

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Wednesday, 14 November—Between 14-16 November, the Kingdom hosted the 5th Bahrain International Airshow (BIAS) at Sakhir Air Base, under the auspices of King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa. The BIAS 2018 promotes Bahrain’s status as a vital aviation industry hub and attracts investment to the Kingdom. The show brought major local and international aviation players, such as Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft, Etihad and the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency, together with senior civil and military officials from around the world.

State of Kuwait
 

Sunday, 11 November—Kuwait’s Emir, Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, received Iraq’s President, Barham Saleh, and his accompanying delegation. During the meeting they discussed bilateral relations between Kuwait and Iraq and ways how to boost cooperation. The visit included delivering part of Kuwait’s property stored by Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Saleh reiterated his country’s keenness to work with Kuwait to overcome the past, stained by Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990.

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Monday, 12 November—The Kuwait Army and the French Armed Forces launched military drills with live ammunition under the name ‘Pearl of the West 2018.’ The joint drills aimed at improving combat readiness of the Kuwaiti forces are scheduled to last until 30 November.

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Sultanate of Oman
 

Monday, 12 November—The Chairman of Oman’s Public Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulance (PACDA), Major General Abdullah bin Ali Al Harthy, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief, represented by UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock, to coordinate Omani-UN responses to emergency situations and improve PACDA’s response capabilities.

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State of Qatar 
 

Monday, 12 November—Qatar’s Delegation attended a crisis summit on the stabilisation of Libya organised by Italy in Palermo, Sicily between 12-13 November. The event brought together international and regional players, including the two main Libyan fractions: the UN-backed Prime Minister of the Government of National Accord in Tripoli, Fayez Serraj, and General Khalifa Haftar, leader of the Libyan National Army based in the East of Libya. Haftar arrived in Palermo, held bilateral meetings with Italian and European leaders but did not participate in the actual conference—he was protesting Turkey’s and Qatar’s presence at the summit, they support his rivals, mainly Islamist groups, in Libya. Turkey walked out of the conference in dissatisfaction with its proceedings.