It is a moment of great pride and honour for Bahrain. Bahrain’s Prime Minister, HRH Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa has become the first Arab prime minister to receive the ‘Flame of Peace’ Award granted by the Association for the Furtherance of Peace.
Archduchess Herta Margarete, the association president presented the award to Prince Khalifa was at a ceremony in the capital Manama attended by Vice-President Archduke Sandor von Habsburg, ministers, and senior Bahraini officials.
Prince Khalifa was given the award for the crucial role he has played in enhancing humanitarian work, promoting peace and strengthening humanitarian relations among peoples of the world.
The Flame of Peace Award was incepted in 2007 as one of the association’s key initiatives and is conferred on state and government leaders and dignitaries in tribute for their achievements in supporting global peace, coexistence and international cooperation in sustainable development and humanitarian initiatives.
“The award is an honouring of the Bahraini people whose society is a model for openness and fraternity, as well as for commitment to the values of tolerance and peaceful co-existence among all its components,” Prince Khalifa said, noting that Bahrain has been, and still is, a melting pot of civilisations and cultures, and an oasis of freedom and equality for all.
The Flame of Peace Award reconfirms the kingdom’s distinguished status as a peace-loving country that supports efforts to strengthen the pillars of global peace, and spread the culture and values of fraternity, co-existence and love so that security and stability prevail worldwide, the prime minister said.
HRH Prince Khalifa has served as the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain since its independence in 1971. He is the second son of the former ruler of Bahrain Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and the uncle of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa.