United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed Bahrain's reforms as he held talks with HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander, on the sidelines of a global summit in Kuwait.

He hailed efforts, led by His Majesty King Hamad, towards the continuation of reforms in the kingdom through dialogue, as well as improving human rights and good governance at the International Donors' Conference for Syria, said a report in the Gulf Daily News.

The Crown Prince thanked the UN secretary-general for supporting His Majesty's initiatives aimed at resuming dialogue with politic al societies.

He emphasised the kingdom's commitment to an inclusive approach and the need for all sides to understand the others' viewpoint to reach consensus, which is key to long-term stability.

The Crown Prince also expressed the need for all sides to be committed to the long-term stability of the country and contribute to building a conducive environment by avoiding acts of disruption.

"The implementation of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry and its full acceptance by His Majesty should not be underestimated," HRH the Crown Prince said, and added that the report stands as an enduring example of Bahrain's progress and its recovery from the challenges posed by past events.

Meanwhile, both leaders stressed the importance of bringing the situation in Syria to a peaceful end, expressing hope that international efforts to end the violence and achieve stability in the country would yield positive results.

The Crown Prince said the conference, hosted by Kuwait, was an important move to end the suffering of the Syrian people at this critical stage, praising the initiative by Kuwait and the UN to consolidate efforts aimed at dealing with the humanitarian crisis.

The UN secretary-general thanked His Majesty and the kingdom of Bahrain for supporting to the people of Syria and the UN's efforts aimed at addressing the humanitarian crisis.

Bahrain donation

Bahrain yesterday donated $20 million to support distressed Syrian refugees.

HRH the Crown Prince announced the move as he attended the opening session of the International Donors' Conference for Syria.

The humanitarian initiative follows directives from His Majesty King Hamad as part of international efforts to alleviate Syrian people's suffering.

The Amir of Kuwait, Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah, chaired the session at Bayan Palace, in the presence of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and heads of delegations.

The Crown Prince paid tribute to the Kuwaiti leader for his initiative, stressing his country's pioneering role in advocating joint Arab and international work.

"The 33rd GCC Summit in Bahrain backed the conference, convened by Kuwait in co-operation with the United Nations," he said.

He urged the international community to step up efforts to stop the bloodshed and contain the Syrian crisis.

He also stressed the need to meet Syrian people's aspirations to achieve security and stability and build a modern nation that embraces its entire population.

Bahrain has already earmarked $5 million to build four schools and 500 shelters for Syrian refugees in Jordan under the supervision of the Royal Charity Organisation. – TradeArabia News Service