Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ghanim bin Fadhl Al-Bouainain today led Bahrain’s delegation to the 2nd Arab League–EU ministerial meeting in Cairo. Incumbent Arab League council session president Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Adnan Mansour and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Baroness Catherine Ashton co-chaired the meeting. Addressing the session at the Arab League headquarters, Mr. Al-Bouainain said that the Arab-EU relations are built on clearly-defined bases conducive to a sustained political, economic and cultural partnership. He described the Arab-EU meeting as an opportunity which comes at a defining regional moment to elaborate joint viewpoints regarding key international and economic issues. He reiterated Bahrain’s full support for the pan-Arab efforts to achieve regional security and stability and back peacemaking in the Middle East – a region which remains in dire need for international support. The minister pointed out challenges and dangers confronting the Arab World and the European Union, citing particularly mounting regional and global terror, interference in the internal affairs of other countries, nuclear proliferation, piracy, EU monetary instability, economic stagnation hitting developing Arab countries and Mediterranean EU countries, in addition to illegal immigration and rising unemployment. Mr. Al-Bouainain pointed out the incessant Iranian threats to the GCC countries, which contravenes the principle of good neighborliness, fuels tensions and erodes any trust in the region. He stressed Bahrain’s stance, urging the settlement of the Iran-occupied Emirati islands (Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Mousa) either through direct negotiations or through referral of the case to the Internal Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague. He reiterated the Kingdom’s call to establish a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East and pressurize Israel to join the Non-Proliferation Treaty, stressing the necessity for Iran to commit to its international obligations, cooperate fully and observe full transparency with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Mr. Al-Bounain called for a joint Arab-League-EU effort to revive the peace process towards the establishment of an independent Palestinian state in application of with the international resolutions. He said that cultural challenges are no less important than political or security threats, stressing the necessity to foster joint human values, cultivate the culture of dialogue, respect of others, diversity, co-existence and freedom of creed to protect human dignity and promote social development. UN-Arab League special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi updated the session on efforts to reach a peaceful settlement to the Syrian Crisis.