Inter-faith dialogue urged to promote world peace

Manama: Bahrain has reiterated its commitment to interfaith dialogue as a means to promote international cooperation and world peace.

"The Foreign Minister, Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmad Al Khalifa, stressed in a meeting with the Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Dominique Mambert, the significance of promoting dialogue between cultures and religions to ensure peaceful and fruitful co-existence," Bahrain News Agency reported on Sunday.

Shaikh Khalid, who met the official in Vatican City, also highlighted the need for closer cooperation for the sake of international peace, justice and spiritual and ethical values.

Bahrain and the Vatican established relations in 2000, following a landmark visit in November 1999 by King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa to the Vatican where he was received by Pope John Paul II.

Many Christian families live in the kingdom which has 16 established churches, including the National Evangelical Church, the oldest Christian institution in the Gulf.

Christians constitute about 1% of Bahrain's native population who, according to US State reports, are free to practice their religion

Alice Sama'an, the vice president of the Shura Council, represents the religious community in the bicameral parliament. She made history in April 2005 by becoming the first Christian to chair a parliamentary session in the Muslim world.

Predominantly Muslim Bahrain used to have a Jewish MP, Huda Ezra Nonoo, who was last month nominated as ambassador to the US. About 40 Jews live in Bahrain which has a total native population of 540,000.