Orthodox Church head welcomed in Bahrain

The head of the Indian Orthodox Church, Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, was accorded a warm welcome as he arrived at the Gulf nation of Bahrain.

Bahrain Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid hosted a reception for Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, and hailed the "deep-rooted friendship between Bahrain and India".

According to the Gulf News, he pledged that Bahrain would uphold the labour, security and safety rights of Indians and all other communities living in the country.

"The kingdom is keen on the rights of all residents, both citizens and expatriates. Bahrain will do its utmost to ease the living conditions of Indians in the country," the minister said.

He further said that India sets an ideal model of the peaceful coexistence between the different religions, cultures, and ethnicities that made up the Indian society.

The Indian community is the largest in Bahrain and makes up almost half of the 550,000 foreigners living in the country. Most of its members are unskilled labourers, working mainly in the construction sector.

Earlier, the prime minister, Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa received Baselios Marthoma Paulose at the Gudaibiya Palace.

During the meeting, reports said Khalifa praised the Bahraini-Indian relations and stressed the kingdom's constant keenness to promote the values of co-existence and mutual love.