A call for peace, dialogue and shared responsibility was made at the opening of the 16th Plenary Session of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA), as Bahrain urged legislators to confront rising global tensions with unity and co-operation.
National Assembly and Parliament Speaker and APA President Ahmed Al Musallam said Bahrain’s hosting of the landmark session underlined its firm belief that dialogue between cultures and civilisations is no longer optional, but a strategic necessity.
Around 190 parliamentarians and officials from 27 countries are attending the event being held at The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence and Spa Manama.
“Asia today stands at a crossroad,” Mr Al Musallam said. “Either we allow division, extremism and conflict to shape our future, or we choose dialogue, co-existence and co-operation as our strongest shield against instability.”
The session is being held under the theme ‘The Role of Asian Parliaments in Promoting Dialogue among Civilisations and Cultures in Asia: Opportunities, Challenges and Future Pathways’. It comes as the world grapples with geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty and humanitarian crises.
Mr Al Musallam said Bahrain’s approach was rooted in the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad and the guidance of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, stressing that parliamentary diplomacy must translate values into tangible outcomes.
“Parliaments are not observers of history – they are its architects,” he said. “Our responsibility is to legislate for peace, protect human dignity and give future generations a region defined by understanding rather than confrontation.”
Mr Al Musallam highlighted the upcoming International Day of Peaceful Co-existence on January 28, adopted by the UN General Assembly following a Bahraini initiative, describing it as a landmark international achievement that reflects Bahrain’s global vision.
“This day is a message from Bahrain to the world,” he said. “A message that peaceful coexistence is not a slogan, but a lived reality that must be defended through laws, policies and collective action.”
He reiterated Bahrain’s commitment to advancing the initiative’s goals through diplomacy, dialogue and negotiation, while rejecting extremism, hatred and incitement.
Mr Al Musallam also pointed to Bahrain’s royal initiatives promoting tolerance, including the Bahrain Declaration on Religious Freedom, global interfaith dialogue conferences, calls for an international convention criminalising hate speech, the King Hamad Award for Peaceful Co-existence, and the educational work of the King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence.
“These initiatives are proof that co-existence can be institutionalised, taught and passed on, especially to our youth,” he said.
On regional and international issues, Mr Al Musallam reaffirmed Bahrain’s firm and principled support for the Palestinian cause, stressing the need for a just and lasting peace based on international law and the two-state solution.
“Peace in the Middle East cannot be selective,” he said. “The Palestinian people are entitled to their full, legitimate rights, and diplomacy remains the only path to lasting stability.”
He welcomed the UN General Assembly’s adoption of the New York Declaration on resolving the Palestinian issue and praised efforts led by Saudi Arabia in partnership with France.
Mr Al Musallam thanked Asian, Arab and Islamic nations for supporting Bahrain’s successful bid for UN Security Council membership, pledging that the kingdom would be ‘a clear and responsible voice for peace, justice and humanity’.
He expressed pride in Bahrain assuming the APA presidency for 2026 and paid tribute to outgoing president Sahiba Gafarova, Speaker of Azerbaijan’s National Assembly.
“Our diversity is Asia’s greatest strength,” he said. “If we choose dialogue today, we secure peace tomorrow.”
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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