NATO Press Release (2008)058

23 April 2008

NATO Secretary General and Permanent Representatives to attend NATO-Bahrain Public Diplomacy Conference in Manama

The Secretary General of NATO H.E Mr. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and NATO Permanent Representatives on the North Atlantic Council will travel to Bahrain on 23-25 April 2008. They will attend the International Conference on "NATO-Bahrain Relations and the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative”, to take place on 24 April at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Manama. This conference is co-organised by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the NATO Public Diplomacy Division.

This international event will bring together the Secretary General of NATO, NATO Permanent Representatives on the North Atlantic Council, the Deputy Secretary General of NATO, the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee and high level NATO officials with government representatives, academics and senior scholars from countries in the Gulf region invited in the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative. The conference main objectives are: to promote a better mutual understanding between NATO and ICI invited countries and to introduce fresh perceptions and ideas from the region on the implementation of the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain H.E. Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa, will deliver the conference opening address and the Secretary General of NATO H.E. Mr. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer will give the keynote speech.

During the visit to Bahrain the Secretary General of NATO, H.E. Mr. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer will hold bilateral meetings with H.M. the King Ahmad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, with the Crown Prince H.H. Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, with the Prime Minister H.H. Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa and H.E. the Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa.

MEDIA ADVISORY

On 24 April at 17:00 the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain and the Secretary General will give a joint press conference at the Rizt Carlton Hotel in Manama.

For more information, members of the Press Should contact the NATO Press Service: +32 (0)2 707 50 41. For accreditation they should contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain: http://www.mofa.gov.bh