58 November 2016 www.bahrainthismonth.com britaininbahrain His Excellency Dr Dhafer Alumran explains the importance of marking this auspicious occasion. Celebrating 200 Years of Friendship I understand you have been heading up the organising committee for the anniversary events; how did you become involved? As the Assistant Undersecretary for GCC Affairs and Western Countries at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it has been a great honour working on bilateral affairs with all European countries and, particularly, with the UK. When the Royal Court asked to form a working group committee consisting of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the British Embassy and the Bahrain British Business Forum, along with our friends at the British Council, to work together in organising 200 events for the 200 years of relations between Bahrain and the UK, I was eager to get started in making this goal come to life to honour Bahrain’s strong relations with the UK and to show the public just how important this friendship is and what a special year 2016 marks for our Kingdom. What are some of the challenges you have faced in organising so many events over the course of the year, and how have these been overcome? When there is a will, there are no challenges. Due to the well-organised committee members and their dedication to this project, we’ve been able to handle all things that have come our way, thanks to the enthusiasm and assistance from other government agencies that have helped put the events together. What do you feel the anniversary celebrations and events have achieved in terms of Bahraini-British relations? The events that have been organised so far and the events to come in the upcoming months have showcased the rich culture of Bahrain and the UK to Bahrainis and foreigners in the Kingdom. These events have raised awareness to the public of the longstanding relations that exist between the two countries. Musical acts, theatrical performances, sports events, the month-long Food Month in April, in which around 35 venues got on board to introduce Bahraini-British fusion dishes to their menus, are just some of the many events that have taken place around the Kingdom for all to enjoy, and they have been greatly successful. Not only has the committee been hard at work but we have reached out to numerous ministries and companies in Bahrain who have all been eager to work with the committee to help make these events possible, which just goes to show the importance Bahrainis place on our relations with our dear friends. Have there been major costs involved and are these expected to be recouped in ongoing investment encouraged by the anniversary year? Many of the events have been made possible by the kind contributions made by various government agencies in Bahrain and, for that, we are extremely grateful for their generosity. Will any of the events become annual occasions? The events that have been organised throughout this year are dedicated to promoting the 200-year anniversary of relations between Bahrain and the United Kingdom and therefore will not become annual occasions. However, this celebration will only strengthen relations between the two countries and will encourage more collaborations between the two sides in various fields in the future. We look forward to welcoming more events in the Kingdom and will continue to work closely together with the UK for more such activities that the public can participate in and enjoy. And, as the year comes to a close, what are the events you are still most looking forward to? I am most looking forward to the launch of the 200year commemorative postal stamp that has been kindly designed by the Ministry of Transportation in honour of the 200-year anniversary. There are also many exciting visits to come within the next couple of months, such as a visit from the British Prime Minister and His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales’ visit to the Kingdom, which will further strengthen our longstanding relations with the United Kingdom. HE Dr Dhafer Alumran and British Ambassador to Bahrain HE Simon Martin
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