HRH CROWN PRINCE INTERVIEW TO AL ARABIYA TV
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE SALMAN BIN HAMAD AL KHALIFA, CROWN PRINCE AND DEPUTY SUPREME COMMANDER, HAS HIGHLIGHTED A NUMBER OF KEY ISSUES INCLUDING DEMOCRATICPRACTICES, ECONOMIC REFORMS AND ARAB ISSUES IN A TELEVISION INTERVIEW ON AL ARABIYA CHANNEL.
THE FOLLOWING IS A LITERAL TRANSCRIPT RECEIVED FROM HRH’S COURT:
TRANSCRIPT OF HRH INTERVIEW WITH AL ARABIYA:
GOOD EVENING, FOUR YEARS AGO DURING ONE OF THE PANEL DISCUSSIONS OF THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM AT THE DEAD SEA, A YOUNG PERSONALITY FROM THE [ARABIAN ] GULF CAUGHT MY ATTENTION WITH A POLITICAL- ECONOMIC PAPER WHICH WAS THE SUBJECT OF INTENSE AND LONG DISCUSSIONS AT THE CONFERENCE. THIS PERSONALITY WHICH I HAD THE HONOUR OF BEING INTRODUCED TO, WAS THE CROWN PRINCE OF BAHRAIN, PRINCE SALMAN BIN HAMAD AL KHALIFA.
YOUR HIGHNESS, GOOD EVENING. YOU ARE IN A SPECIAL INTERVIEW ON AL ARABIYA SCREEN FROM THE BAHRAINI CAPITAL, MANAMA. I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THE PANEL DISCUSSION THAT YOU HAD PARTICIPATED IN AT THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM IN JORDAN. IT GENERATED INTENSE DISCUSSIONS, BOTH IN SUPPORT OF, AS WELL AS AGAINST THE ARGUMENTS YOU RAISED. TODAY WE MEET AFTER FOUR YEARS TO DISCUSS ECONOMIC REFORM AND THE PROPOSALS YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS WROTE IN THE WASHINGTON POST ON PALESTINE AND THE ARAB-ISRAELI DISPUTE. BUT I WILL START WITH BAHRAIN. YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS, WHAT IS THE JOB OF THE CROWN PRINCE?
ANSWER: IN THE KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN, MY ROLE AS CROWN PRINCE IS TO ASSIST AND SUPPORT HIS MAJESTY THE KING.I AM HONOURED BY THAT ROLE. HIS MAJESTY ASSIGNED ME TO CHAIR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD AND TO BE HIS DEPUTY AS SUPREME COMMANDER OF THE ARMED FORCES. CURRENTLY, THESE ARE MY MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES..
Q:YOU ARE KNOWN IN THE ARAB WORLD AS THE ECONOMIC LEADER OF THIS KINGDOM, AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD WHICH TOUCHES UPON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE BAHRAIN ECONOMIC VISION 2030. AFTER THIS PROGRESS, CAN WE SAY THAT THERE ARE IMPORTANT STEPS AND TANGIBLE ADVANCEMENT IN THIS DOMAIN OR DID THOSE PLANS REMAIN ON PAPER?
ANS: NO, OF COURSE NOT. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN DID NOT BEGIN WITH ME. IT STARTED WITH THE EFFORTS OF OFFICIALS WHO TOOK ON THIS RESPONSIBILITY BEFORE US. WE HAVE TO RECALL THE LATE AMIR, SHAIKH ISA BIN SALMAN AL KHALIFA WHO FOUNDED THE MODERN STATE WITH THE SUPPORT OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE KHALIFA BIN SALMAN AL KHALIFA,THE PRIME MINISTER.DEVELOPING BAHRAIN STARTED DIRECTLY AFTER INDEPENDENCE. WHEN I WAS GIVEN THIS RESPONSIBILITY TODAY, I FOUND A STRONG FOUNDATION AND SO I BUILT ON IT.
Q: WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ACHIEVEMENTS DURING THIS PERIOD. IN THESE TWO YEARS, HOW CAN WE SENSE THAT SOMETHING HAS CHANGED?
ANS: IF WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMIC VISION, WE MUST RECOGNIZE ITS PRINCIPLES. ALL OUR INITIATIVES ARE BASED ON THE UNDERLYING GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF THE VISION. THERE ARE THREE GUIDING PRINCIPLES THAT EVERY CITIZEN AND OFFICIAL MUST TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION. THE FIRST IS COMPETITIVENESS.THIS IS OUT OF OUR FAITH AND BELIEF THAT COMPETITION IS WHAT MAKES PEOPLE MORE PRODUCTIVE AND MORE INNOVATIVE.
Q: MEANING A LIBERAL CAPITALIST SYSTEM?
HRH: YES LIBERAL, BUT WITHIN LIMITS THAT GUARANTEE THE PRINCIPLE. THE SECOND OF THESE GUIDING PRINCIPLE , AND THE MOST IMPORTANT, IS FAIRNESS BECAUSE COMPETITION WITHOUT JUSTICE COULD LEAD TO BIG DIFFERENCES IN LIVING STANDARDS OR RIGHTS.
Q: YOUR HIGHNESS THE PRINCE, YOU MEAN THAT EVERYBODY HAS THE LUCK OR OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE?
ANS: ALL OPPORTUNITIES ARE OPENED TO EVERYONE. BUT FAIRNESS ALSO HAS OTHER MEANINGS.IT SUGGESTS AN EXCELLENT LEGAL SYSTEM AND DECENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR LIVING WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSING, HEALTH AND EDUCATION. OPPORTUNITIES HAVE TO BE EQUAL. THE THIRD PRINCIPLE IS SUSTAINABILITY. IF TODAY WE DEPEND ON THE OIL BOOM, THEN TOMORROW WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE. AS AN EXAMPLE OF THIS, IF WE TALK ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY, IS WE MUST IDENTIFY THOSE WHO GENUINELY NEED HELP AND REQUIRE SUPPORT, AND WORK ON HELPING THEM. BUT IF THIS SUPPORT, LIKE IN SOME COUNTRIES, GOES TO THE RICH AND THE POOR EQUALLY, THEN THAT WOULD MEAN THAT THE LION’S SHARE WOULD GO TO THE RICH AND NOT THE POOR.
Q: IS THIS A KIND OF SOCIALISM?
ANS: NO. NOT AT ALL.
Q: THIS MEANS, IF YOU WILL, IS SOMETHING SIMILAR TO AN ECONOMIC TAX. THE RICH PAY A TAX THAT IS MUCH HIGHER THAN THE POOR. THE POOR TAKE IT AS A SUBSIDY AND NOT A TAX. I SAID SOCIALIST BALANCE BUT THIS RESEMBLES THE LOGIC OF SUPPORTING THE POOR TO BE ABLE TO HAVE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES. THIS IS THE CASE.
ANS: OF COURSE, CAPITALISM WITHOUT CONTROL OR LIMITS IS NOT CAPITALISM.
Q: IS THIS WHAT SAVED BAHRAIN FROM THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS?
ANS: OF COURSE.
Q: WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THE ECONOMIC CRISIS ON BAHRAIN?
ANS: ECONOMIC GROWTH IS THE KEY INDICATOR. WE PREVIOUSLY HAD GROWTH BETWEEN SEVEN TO EIGHT PERCENT. THIS YEAR WE EXPECT GROWTH TO BE BETWEEN THREE TO FOUR PERCENT. BAHRAIN ECONOMY DID NOT WITNESS A RECESSION OR A DECLINE IN ECONOMIC GROWTH. WHAT IS HAPPENING IS ONLY A DECREASE IN PERCENTAGE.
Q: WHAT ABOUT BANKS AND THEIR UNEASE?
ANS: I BELIEVE THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR ESTABLISHMENTS SHOULD DEAL WITH THIS CRISIS ACCORDING TO THEIR MANAGEMENT AND SKILLS.
Q: YOUR HIGHNESS THE PRINCE, YOU SAY THAT THE OIL ERA IS OVER. WHAT DID YOU MEAN, YOUR HIGHNESS?
ANS: WE HAVE TO BUILD A [DIVERSIFIED] ECONOMY BASED ON VARIOUS SECTORS AND NOT DEPEND ON ONE SECTOR , WHICH IS OIL. AS OFFICIALS WE MUST BUILD AN ECONOMY FOR OUR CITIZENS WHICH IS CAPABLE OF GIVING THEM A DECENT STANDARD OF LIVING. THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF OUR ECONOMIC VISION 2030 IS THAT CITIZENS ARE THE MAIN BENEFICIARIES OF DEVELOPMENT. WE MUST CREATE A CONSTRUCTIVE ECONOMIC SYSTEM THAT SERVES THE CITIZEN, SPARES OUR COUNTRY AND OUR PEOPLE FROM CRISES, WORKS ON REINFORCING ITS STABILITY AND FULFILLING ITS REQUIREMENTS.
Q: IS IT BECAUSE YOU IN BAHRAIN ARE LESS RICH THAN SURROUNDING COUNTRIES?
ANS: NO. NOT HAVING WEALTH COULD CREATE AN EVEN BIGGER PROBLEM. I DO NOT THINK THAT THE COMPARISON SHOULD BE MADE ON THIS LEVEL. WE IN BAHRAIN, ARE ACCUSTOMED TO A CERTAIN INCOME LEVEL AND WE BUILD ON WHAT WE HAVE IN OUR HANDS. WE DO NOT LOOK AT OUR NEIGHBORS, BUT WE LOOK AT WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN US AND WE HAVE BUILT ON IT. AND, HOPEFULLY, WE WILL BE ABLE TO BUILD MORE.
Q: YOUR HIGHNESS THE PRINCE, THERE IS A LONG REPORT ON BAHRAIN ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE IN LE MONDE DIPLOMATIQUE. THE REPORT SAYS THAT BAHRAIN TRIED, WITH ITS BANKING SYSTEM, TO REPLACE BEIRUT WHICH HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR ITS WELL- BUILT BANKING SYSTEM. BUT BAHRAIN HAS A STRONG PROBLEM OF UNEMPLOYMENT AND POVERTY AND THERE ARE MANY REPORTS ON THIS.
ANS: YES, THE REPORTS ARE RIGHT. BUT, THE PERCENTAGE IS VERY LITTLE. WE WERE ABLE TO CHALLENGE THIS REALITY AND WORK ON SOLVING IT, AND THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF OUR SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS. AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHEN WE AT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF HIS MAJESTY THE KING, STARTED WORKING ON INITIATING THE ECONOMIC REFORM PROGRAMMES AT THE BEGINNING OFTHE MILLENNIUM, WE FOUND THAT DESPITE THE INCREASED ECONOMIC GROWTH, THE PUBLIC SECTOR WAS THE MAIN SOURCE FOR EMPLOYMENT. THIS IS WHY WE WORKED ON HELPING THE PRIVATE SECTOR PLAY A MORE ACTIVE ROLE, AND SUPPORTED IT TO FIND ITS RIGHTFUL PLACE WITH THE HELP OF TRAINING AND POLICIES WITH CONCERNED BODIES IN THIS SECTOR. WE WERE ABLE TO EMPLOY YOUTH WHO PREVIOUSLY FACED DIFFICULTIES FINDING A JOB. WE CAN NOW SAY THAT WE ARE PLEASED WITH THE RESULTS AND WE MUST CONTINUE IN THE SAME MANNER.
Q: THEY ARE TRAINING MORE?
ANS: YES, THEY ARE TRAINED AND THEY WORK. AND NOW THE PREVIOUS STATE OF DISSATISFACTION ENDED.
Q: YOUR HIGHNESS THE PRINCE, FIGURES SHOW THAT SALARIES RANGED BETWEEN 300 DINARS AND 200 AS A MINIMUM?
ANS: WHEN WE BEGAN THE SALARIES WERE 110 DINARS.
Q: BUT YOU CONSIDER THAT BAHRAIN HAS MADE BIG PROGRESS AS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT?
ANS: I SEE THAT IT IS A GREAT PROGRESS AND AN ACHIEVEMENT. THE TRUTH IS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THIS REALITY WELL.
Q: YOUR HIGHNESS THE PRINCE, COULD YOU TALK TO US WITH MORE DETAIL ABOUT THIS?
ANS: YES. THE KEY INDICATOR IS ECONOMIC GROWTH. SINCE WE HAVE RECEIVED THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD, OUR GROWTH RATE HAS INCREASED. I AM PROUD OF THIS ACHIEVEMENT AND I THANK ALL THOSE WHO HAVE SUPPORTED US IN THIS REFORM. AT THE END OF THE DAY, BAHRAINI CITIZENS ARE THE MAIN BENEFICIARIES OF ANY DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMME. I WILL GIVE YOU EXAMPLES OF WHAT WE ACHIEVED. WE ESTABLISHED A SINGLE REGULATOR FOR THE BANKING AND FINANCIAL SECTOR. WE LIBERALIZED THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SECTOR AND PROVIDED SERVICES WITH LESS COST, MORE DIVERSITY AND HIGHER TECHNOLOGY. WE WERE ABLE TO ATTRACT LARGE INVESTMENTS INTO BAHRAIN IN THE BANKING SECTOR, INSURANCE AND SOME INDUSTRIES RELATED TO THE ALUMINIUM SECTOR. WE WERE ABLE TO PRIVATISE THE NEW SEA PORT, KHALIFA PORT, WHICH WAS RECENTLY OPENED. WE ARE NOW WORKING ON CONNECTING IT WITH THE CAUSEWAY AND AIRPORT. WE INITIATED A COMPREHENSIVE PROJECT AND ESTABLISHED THE LABOUR FUND (TAMKEEN) WITH A CAPITAL OF BD100 MILLION TO SUPPORT THE TRAINING OF BAHRAINI CITIZENS. WE WERE ABLE TO LAUNCH A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMME FOR UPGRADING EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN THE KINGDOM. IT IS BASED ON FIVE DISCIPLINES: WE CREATED AN INDEPENDENT BODY FOR THE SUPERVISION OF SCHOOLS. WE ESTABLISHED POLYTECHNIC, A TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY. WE LAUNCHED A PROGRAM FOR REFORMING SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN TERMS OF THEIR CAPABILITIES AND TEACHING METHODS. WE ESTABLISHED A TEACHER COLLEGE. WE IMPROVED THE STATUS OF BAHRAIN UNIVERSITY. THOSE ARE THE FIVE AREAS WE WERE ABLE TO LAUNCH UNDER THE TAG OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BECAUSE AN EDUCATED NATION IS A PRODUCTIVE NATION.
Q: YOUR HIGHNESS THE PRINCE, HOW DO YOU COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE?
ANS: BY VISITING PEOPLE MAJALIS. BEING WITH THEM DURING THEIR HAPPY AS WELL AS SAD TIMES. THESE ARE OUR CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS.
Q: YOUR HIGHNESS THE PRINCE, ARE YOU PLEASED WITH DEMOCRACY IN BAHRAIN?
ANS: OF COURSE
Q: YOUR HIGHNESS, WHO LEGISLATES AND APPROVES LAWS? THE APPOINTED COUNCIL OR THE ELECTED COUNCIL? ESPECIALLY THAT BAHRAIN HAS A SHURA AND A COUNCIL OF REPRESENTATIVES?
ANS: BOTH COUNCILS HAVE THE ABILITY OF LOOKING INTO LAWS AND DRIVING THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL COOPERATION BETWEEN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, WITH BOTH THE CHAMBERS: SHURA AND REPRESENTATIVES. BOTH HAVE RIGHTS IN PASSING LAWS. IF THE TWO DISAGREE, THEY CONVENE AND VOTE TOGETHER.
Q: IN SIGNIFICANT MATTERS, LIKE NORMALIZATION WITH ISRAEL FOR INSTANCE, WHO DECIDES?
ANS: OF COURSE, WE HAVEN COME TO THAT BRIDGE TO CROSS IT YET. BUT ON SOVEREIGN ISSUES, LIKE DEFENSE, FOREIGN AFFAIRS, THERE ARE CONSULTATIONS BETWEEN SPECIAL COMMITTEES AND THE GOVERNMENT. THE COUNCIL OF REPRESENTATIVES IS A PARTNER IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. THIS IS ITS ROLE. WE SHOULD NOT CONFUSE IT WITH THE BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM. THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE BODIES EMERGE FROM THE SAME SOURCE. THE COUNCIL OF REPRESENTATIVES IS CONCERNED WITH LEGISLATION. BY LEGISLATION IT TAKES PART IN DECISION MAKING. FOR EXAMPLE, THERE IS NO BUDGET WITHOUT A BUDGET LAW. THERE IS NO HEALTH PROGRAMME WITHOUT A HEALTH LAW OR A PROPERTY PROGRAMME FOR HOUSING AND AGRICULTURE.
Q: THE PRESENCE OF THE AMERICAN BASE IN BAHRAIN, WHO DECIDES IT AND WHO PERMITS IT?
ANS: AN AGREEMENT WITH BAHRAIN HAS BEEN SIGNED ON THIS. THIS IS NOT NEW. THIS AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED IN 1946. IF WE LOOK THIS MATTER, IT IS A CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESS LIKE ANY OTHER PROCESS. THERE HAS BEEN AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES FOR LONG DECADES.
Q: SO IS IT ANNULLED BY THE COUNCIL OF RESPRESENTATIVES? IS IT ANNULLED BY THE SUPREME COUNCIL? WILL IT BE ANNULLED ONE DAY? I AM JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE JURISDICTIONS..
ANS: WHETHER IT IS THE AMERICAN BASE OR THE PRICE OF BREAD, IT IS THE SAME PROCESS. THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESS IS CLEAR. A LAW IS PROPOSED BY THE STATE, THE SHURA COUNCIL OR THE COUNCIL OF REPRESENTATIVES. IT IS PROCESSED THROUGH ALL AUTHORITIES. AFTER IT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY ALL SIDES, IT IS TO BE RATIFIED BY HIS MAJESTY THE KING. WITHOUT THE SIGNATURE OF HIS MAJESTY, THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT VALID. WE RETURN TO THE SECOND PART OF THIS SPECIAL INTERVIEW WITH THE CROWN PRINCE OF BAHRAIN, HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE SALMAN BIN HAMAD AL KHALIFA.
Q: YOUR HIGHNESS THE PRINCE, I READ WHILE ON THE PLANE CRITICISM FOR BAHRAIN, STATING THAT PEOPLE CHANGE GOVERNMENTS BUT IN BAHRAIN THE GOVERNMENT CHANGES THE PEOPLE. THERE WERE RUMORS OR TRUE NEWS ABOUT NATURALIZATION OF SUNNI MUSLIMS IN BAHRAIN
ANS: EXAGGERATED RUMORS.
Q: EXAGGERATED RUMORS?
ANS: THERE IS NO COUNTRY THAT DOES NOT NATURALIZE BASED ON ITS NEEDS. BUT THIS TOPIC HAS BECOME SENSITIVE, BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME CONSIDER IT AS A WAY OF RETAINING BALANCE OF ONE SECT AGAINST ANOTHER, DEMOGRAPHICALLY, AND THEY MISUSE IT. EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD OPTS FOR NATURALIZATION TO OBTAIN EXPERTISE AND SKILLS. IS OUR METHOD OF NATURALIZATION FAULT-PROOF? OF COURSE NOT. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME MISTAKES, BUT THIS DOES NOT MEAN WE SHUT THIS DOOR OR LEAVE IT WIDE OPEN. IT IS WISE TO REVIEW OUR POLICIES AND FORMULATE A POLICY THAT SERVES THE INTEREST OF BAHRAIN AND NOT A CATEGORY AGAINST ANOTHER OR SPECULATIONS AGAINST SPECULATIONS.
Q: IS THE INTEREST OF BAHRAIN IN ITS DEMOGRAPHICAL BALANCE?
ANS: THE INTEREST OF BAHRAIN IS IN CREATING A FAIR AND COMPETITIVE SOCIETY CAPABLE OF SUSTAINABILITY THAT ENSURES CITIZENS A GOOD LIFE. IT MAKES CITIZENS FEEL THAT THE FUTURE OF THEIR CHILDREN IS BETTER THAN THE LIFE THEY LIVED. I WANT IT AWAY FROM SECTARIANISM AND ENDLESS SPECULATIONS.
Q. THIS WAS THE REALITY OF THE REGION AND NOT ONLY THE REALITY OF BAHRAIN?
A. IN BAHRAIN, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, IS A LEADERSHIP CAPABLE OF ACHIEVING THE BALANCE, DESPITE ALL THE DIFFICULTIES WITH THE HUMANITARIAN BAHRAINI SPIRIT OF TOLERANCE AND RELIGIOUS ETHICS ALLOWING US TO LIVE IN ONE PLACE, IN A SAFE HOME. BUT TO ALLOW INDIVIDUALS TO ENTER BAHRAIN AND DRAW US INTO A DISCUSSION, OR INSULT A GROUP OR ACCUSE A GROUP OF WRONGDOING BY ANOTHER; THIS MEANS THE ROAD TO DISASTER. BECAUSE PRIOR TO THESE PROBLEMS WE LIVED HUNDREDS OF YEARS IN THIS KINGDOM AND COEXISTED FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS. THERE ARE PROBLEMS, OF COURSE, BUT THEY ARE SIMPLE. EXAGGERATIONS AND SPECULATIONS THAT ARE NOT BASED ON FACTS, ARE FAR FROM THE REALITY OF BAHRAIN. I WILL NOW BE REALISTIC IN MY WORDS BECAUSE BAHRAIN HAS ITS OWN INDIVIDUALITY. OUR VISITORS MUST LEAVE WITH THE IMPRESSION THAT BAHRAIN IS A COUNTRY WHICH HAS A SPECIAL SPIRIT AND A SPECIAL WELCOME. I AM PROUD OF THIS BECAUSE IF ONE IS NOT PROUD OF HIS COUNTRY AND IS NOT PROUD OF HIS CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS HE IS LOST IN THIS WORLD. ON THE CONTRARY I AM CONVINCED OF OUR WORK IN BUILDING BRIDGES OF TRUST AND CONTINUATION OF EMBEDDING JUSTICE IN THE COMMUNITY FOR HOUSING, EDUCATION AND HEALTH, EDUCATION AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES. KEEPING AN EYE ON WHOEVER TRIES TO OVERTURN THIS BALANCE IS NECESSARY. WE WILL WORK TO ACHIEVE WHAT WE WANT, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF HIS MAJESTY THE KING. IN FACT I AM SURE THAT OUR SITUATION IS GOOD.
Q. HIS MAJESTY THE KING CALLED FOR NATIONAL DIALOGUE, WHAT HAPPENED WITH THAT?
A. IF I UNDERSTOOD YOU CORRECTLY YOU MEAN HE CALLED FOR A PERMANENT DIALOGUE AND WE ARE IN A PERMANENT DIALOGUE
Q. HOW DO YOU HAVE (MANAGE) A PERMANENT DIALOGUE?
A.BY HAVING SEVERAL MEETINGS BETWEEN OFFICIALS AND THE LEADERSHIPS OF CITIES AND VILLAGES, BETWEEN REPRESENTATIVES ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE, WELL KNOWN PEOPLE, RELIGIOUS SCHOLARS AND PEOPLE WHO HAD SERVED IN THE COMMUNITY. THE PROCESS OF DECISION MAKING IN BAHRAIN INVOLVES ALL SIDES. OUR NATIONAL DECISIONS ARE AN OPINION WE ALL AGREE ON.
Q. LET US BE CLEARER. YOU KNOW NOW THAT THE FASHION (TREND) IN THE ARAB WORLD IS THAT THE SHIITES ARE SUPPORTED BY THE IRANIANS. THIS MEANS WE WILL BE TALKING SHORTLY AFTER ABOUT THE STORY OF THE HOUTHIS AND YEMEN ETC. THE SITUATION OF SHIITES IN BAHRAIN. DO YOU HAVE INFORMATION THAT THERE IS IRANIAN SUPPORT FOR THE SHIITES OF BAHRAIN?
A. DO WE JUST LABEL ALL RAB SHIITES AS BEING BACKED BY IRAN?
Q. ARABS MADE A GRAVE MISTAKE WITH IRAQ ON THIS TOPIC.
A. DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO BE ACCUSED. FIRST SHIISM IS ONE OF THE DOCTRINES (SECTS) OF ISLAM. THE JA’FARI DOCTRINE
A. TRUE
Q. WE DIFFER WITH THEM ON THE WAYS OF INDUCTION AND THE VERDICTS FROM SHARIA. ONLY! BUT TO ACCUSE THEM OF BEING NON-ARABS, AND RIDDING THEMSELVES OF THE ARABIC IDENTITY, AND IDENTIFYING THEM WITH IRAN OR NOT IRAN BECAUSE WE DISAGREE WITH THEM. PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS FOLLOW THE IDEAS AVAILABLE IN THE REGION. WE HAVE SUNNIS FOLLOWING IDEAS FROM IRAN, FROM IRAQ, BY CHINA, BY RUSSIA AND BY THE UNITED STATES. WE MUST NOT LINK A PARTICULAR POLITICAL IDEOLOGY WITH A SECT. THIS IS A MISTAKE. A BIG MISTAKE.. AND THIS DOES NOT RESPECT THIS DOCTRINE (SECT), BECAUSE POLITICS IS TIMELY AND DOCTRINES AND RELIGION ARE PERMANENT. I HOPE THAT ALL OFFICIALS, IN FACT ALL JOURNALISTS IN THE REGION AVOID THIS TALK. BECAUSE WHEN WE BEGIN TO CLASSIFY PEOPLE IN THIS WAY , LETSSPEAK RIGHTFULLY. RELIGION IS ABOVE ALL. THE DANGER IN IT IS THAT A PERSON IS WILLING TO DO HORRIBLE THINGS IN DEFENSE OF THESE PRINCIPLES, WHICH MAKES NO SENSE BECAUSE EVENTUALLY THE THING WHICH WE DISAGREE ON IS POLITICS, NOT RELIGION.
Q. HOWEVER, WILL YOU BE AFFECTED BY A WAR ON IRAN, FOR EXAMPLE?
A. THE ENTIRE REGION AND NOT ONLY BAHRAIN ALONE WOULD BE AFFECTED.
Q. BAHRAIN SPECIFICALLY?
A. WE ARE ALL AFFECTED.
Q. DID YOU READ THE NEWS THAT WAS PUBLISHED A FEW DAYS AGO IN AL AYAM NEWSPAPER THAT SAYS THAT BRITAIN WARNS BAHRAIN FROM DIRECT ACTION AND THE UAE FROM CHAOS IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENS WITH REGARD TO IRAN?
A. I HAVE NOT READ BUT THIS MEANS AND ANY SANE PERSON KNOWS THAT IT IS A SMALL REGION AND THE ARAB GULF REGION IS NOT A REGION WHERE WAR COULD TAKE PLACE AND NOT BE AFFECTED. WE WERE AFFECTED BY THE WAR AGAINST, TWO WARS AGAINST IRAQ. WE WERE AFFECTED BY THE WAR BETWEEN IRAN AND IRAQ … HOW DO WE NOT SUFFER FROM ANY ACTION AGAINST IRAN.
Q. DO YOU FOLLOW UP ON WHAT IS HAPPENING IN IRAN ON A DAILY BASIS? WHAT IS GOING ON? THE IRANIAN AMBASSADOR SPOKE IN BAHRAIN ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF A THIRD ROW AND THAT HE WAS WORKING TO FUEL ALL THESE DEMONSTRATIONS.
A. INSIDE IRAN … I’M NOT AN EXPERT ON THE INTERNAL SITUATION OF IRAN AND MAY GOD HELP THEM. OF COURSE WE WISH SECURITY AND STABILITY FOR ALL OUR NEIGHBORS AND WE AFFIRM AGAIN THAT THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE CALL THE GOOD-NEIGHBOURLY RELATIONSHIP, REQUIRE US TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND TRY TO HELP IF ASKED. HOWEVER, THE SITUATION BECOMES UNCOMFORTABLE IF THERE WAS BIDDING ON WHAT IS HAPPENING. I THINK THE BEST THING IS TO LET THE IRANIAN PEOPLE AND IRANIAN CITIZEN DECIDE THEIR FATE AND NOT INTERFERE IN THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF A STATE, BECAUSE ANY WORD SPOKEN FOR OR AGAINST COULD POSSIBLY BE CONSTRUED BY ANY PARTY AS INTERFERENCE OR WHAT IS CALLED THIRD ROW. AS WE ARE AN INDEPENDENT STATE, WE KNOW WELL WHAT IS RELATED TO US. AS FOR IRAN, IT ALSO HAS ITS OWN INDIVIDUALITY AND MAY GOD HELP TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS AND BY GOD WILL THEY WILL RESOLVE THEM.
Q. IT IS KNOWN THAT YOU HAVE A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH SAUDI ARABIA. BUT YOU KNOW THAT THE KINGDOM TODAY ALSO HAS PROBLEMS WITH HOUTHIS WHO ENTERED ITS BORDERS AND THERE IS A KIND OF WAR. JEFFREY FELTMAN WAS IN BAHRAIN IN THE MANAMA DIALOGUE AND SAID WE HAVE NO INFORMATION OR ANYTHING ASSURES THAT THE HOUTHIS SOURCE OF STRENGTH IS IRAN. FIRST, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF WHAT JEFFREY FELTMAN SAID AND SECONDLY, HOW DO YOU SEE THIS WAR WITH THE HOUTHIS COULD THE ISSUE BE SOLVED MILITARILY OR THERE MUST BE ANOTHER SOLUTION.
A. JEFFREY FELTMAN OPINION OF COURSE, IS JEFFREY FELTMAN OPINION. WELL I CAN NOT SPEAK ABOUT HIS OPINION, BUT I CAN SAY THAT SAUDI ARABIA HAS FULL RIGHT TO DEFEND ITS TERRITORY AND THIS MEANS A LEGITIMATE RIGHT FROM THE UNITED NATIONS .. WE TODAY HEARD ABOUT INTRUDERS AND THE SECURITY PROBLEM CAUSED BY THEM. WE WERE READY TO GO AND PARTICIPATE WITH THEM, BUT SAUDI ARABIA BY VIRTUE OF ITS WEIGHT AND STRATEGIC DEPTH IT IS READY TO DEAL WITH THIS REALITY AND CONSTANT.
Q. HOW DO YOU PARTICIPATE? DO YOU DISPATCH FORCES?
A. YES, IF IN ANY NEED OF COURSE WE ARE READY
Q. TO FIGHT, WITH THE SAUDIS?
A. YES
Q. IN YOUR OPINION WILL MILITARY ACTION BE DECISIVE?
A. BUT WE MUST DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN THE TWO PROBLEMS. ONE IS RELATED TO A BORDER ISSUE WITH SAUDI ARABIA AND THE OTHER IS AN INTERNAL YEMENI ISSUE THAT MUST BE SOLVED BY THE BROTHERS IN YEMEN. IF WE TALK ABOUT BORDER ISSUES THEN YES A MILITARY SOLUTION. IF WE TALKED ABOUT THE HOUTHI ISSUE AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR OFFICIAL AND SOCIETY IN YEMEN, THEN THIS IS AN ISSUE A MILITARY SOLUTION ALONE WOULD NOT SOLVE. IT IS OBLIGATORY THAT THERE BE A POLITICAL SOLUTION IN THE END, FOR SURE.
Q. IN YOUR OPINION IS AL QAEDA ALLIED WITH THE HOUTHIS ON THIS TOPIC
A. GOD KNOWS, AT THE MOMENT I DO NOT HAVE ANY INFORMATION TO PROVE THIS OR OTHERWISE.
Q. THE FINAL PART OF THIS EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH CROWN PRINCE OF BAHRAIN. YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS THE GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL IN A STATEMENT SAID THEY SUPPORT THE BAHRAINI CANDIDATE. WE DO NOT KNOW THE DETAILS AND PROBLEMS THAT HAPPENED. CAN YOU SHED LIGHT WHETHER MR. MOHAMMED AL MUTAWA WOULD BE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL IN 2011?
A. YES, BY THE WILL OF GOD AND IF HE IS PRESENT HE IS THE SECRETARY GENERAL, YES.
Q. WHAT HAPPENED ABOUT THE BRIDGE WITH QATAR? THE FIRST TIME I CAME TO BAHRAIN A FEW YEARS AGO I WAS REALLY SURPRISED BY THE SAUDI ARABIA CAUSEWAY.
A. EXCELLENT
Q. IT WAS SAID THAT THERE WOULD BE ANOTHER BRIDGE WITH QATAR. WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS PROJECT?
A. THE PROJECT IS PROCEEDING AS PLANNED. THERE IS A SPECIALISED AUTHORITY TO FOLLOW-UP ON THIS PROJECT AND NOW IT IS IN THE FINAL STAGE OF COMPLETING THE STUDIES FOR IT.
Q. IT WILL BECOME BAHRAIN AND THE TWO BRIDGES
A. WHY NOT? GOD WILLING THE BRIDGE FOR THE REGION AND THE WORLD.
Q. WE HAVE IN LEBANON, AN AREA CALLED MULTAQA AL NAHRAIN (BETWEEN THE TWO RIVERS) THAT WE ARE PROUD OF. NOW WHOEVER COMES TO BAHRAIN SEES TWO SEAS AND TWO BRIDGES.
Q. YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS AS I SAID EARLIER, THE SUBJECT OF THE WASHINGTON POST YOU SAID THAT ARAB POLITICIANS MUST APPEAR ON ISRAELI MEDIA AND CONVINCE THE ISRAELI PEOPLE ON PEACE. OF COURSE YOU REALISE THAT NATIONALISTS CONSIDERED THAT YOU WERE SEEKING NORMALIZATION.
A. AT THE PEAK OF THE COLD WAR BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE SOVIET UNION THEY USED TO COME OUT AND TALK. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY AND THE PERSON WHO IS INCAPABLE TO ACCOMMODATE ANY OF THAT, WHEN YOU HAVE THE RIGHT AND YOU HAVE A JUST CAUSE LIKE THE PALESTINIAN CAUSE, A STOLEN LAND, A KILLING OCCUPATION, BLACKMAIL, ALL THE BAD THINGS IN THE WORLD. TWO STRONG ISSUES OCCUR IN THIS REGION, AND WE WERE AFRAID.
A FOREIGN JOURNALIST, I WILL NOT MENTION FROM WHICH COUNTRY, SAID TO ME YOU ARABS ARE COWARDS. I ASKED HIM WHY? HE SAID YES YOU ARE COWARDS YOU HIDE FROM REALITY AND DO NOT CONFRONT. WHY DO YOU NOT COME OUT AND TALK IN THE MEDIA. WHY WHEN YOU SEE A PERSON FROM YOUR ENEMIES YOU DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ARGUE WITH THEM AND PUT AN END TO THIS KILLING? ARE YOU AFRAID FOR YOUR POLITICAL STATUS?
Q. OR A RECOGNITION OF THE RIGHT OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL ON THE HISTORIC LAND OF PALESTINE?
A. WE RECOGNISE AND ARE COMMITTED TO INTERNATIONAL LEGITIMACY AND THE CREATION OF TWO STATES SIDE BY SIDE AND NO ONE CAN TELL YOU ANYTHING ELSE. THIS IS A DECISION BY THE ARAB LEAGUE AND THE OFFICIAL WHO DOES NOT TELL YOU THIS, LIES.
Q. ARE YOU READY TO APPEAR ON ISRAELI TELEVISION?
A. OF COURSE, BUT WITH AN OBJECTIVE AND DURING THE APPROPRIATE TIME. YES I AM READY.
Q. THIS MEANS IT IS POSSIBLE TO SAY THAT THERE WAS AN UPHEAVAL AGAINST YOU. THERE WERE SEVERAL STAGES OF THE SO-CALLED NORMALISATION WITH ISRAEL. BAHRAINI CITIZENS WERE ARRESTED IN ISRAEL AND A BAHRAINI DELEGATION WENT TO ISRAEL AND BROUGHT THEM BACK.
A. THANK GOD FOR THE RETURN OF OUR CITIZENS AND THEIR SAFETY
Q. BUT YOU WENT TO ISRAEL WHEN YOU COULD HAVE BROKERED MEDIATION THROUGH GERMANY, FOR EXAMPLE WITH WHAT HAPPENED WITH HEZBOLLAH?
A. AND DELAY THEM TWO TO THREE DAYS AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILY.
Q. HOW DID BAHRAINIS PERCEIVE THIS?
A. SPECULALTIONS ARE POSSIBLE. THOSE WHO WANT TO SPECULATE CAN DO SO. RATIONAL PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND THE POLITICAL REALITY KNOW AND APPRECIATE.
Q. BAHRAIN’S FOREIGN MINISTER ALSO SAID THERE WILL BE A REGIONAL ORGANIZATION, AS IN THE CASE AT THE UNITED NATIONS? THIS IS WHY WE WORKED ON HELPING THE PRIVATE SECTOR PLAY A MORE ACTIVE ROLE, AND SUPPORTED IT TO FIND ITS RIGHTFUL PLACE WITH THE HELP OF TRAINING AND POLICIES WITH CONCERNED BODIES IN THIS SECTOR. WE WERE ABLE TO EMPLOY YOUTH WHO PREVIOUSLY FACED DIFFICULTIES FINDING A JOB. WE CAN NOW SAY THAT WE ARE PLEASED WITH THE RESULTS AND WE MUST CONTINUE IN THE SAME MANNER.
Q: THEY ARE TRAINING MORE?
ANS: YES, THEY ARE TRAINED AND THEY WORK. AND NOW THE PREVIOUS STATE OF DISSATISFACTION ENDED.
Q: YOUR HIGHNESS THE PRINCE, FIGURES SHOW THAT SALARIES RANGED BETWEEN 300 DINARS AND 200 AS A MINIMUM?
ANS: WHEN WE BEGAN THE SALARIES WERE 110 DINARS.
Q: BUT YOU CONSIDER THAT BAHRAIN HAS MADE BIG PROGRESS AS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT?
ANS: I SEE THAT IT IS A GREAT PROGRESS AND AN ACHIEVEMENT. THE TRUTH IS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THIS REALITY WELL.
Q: YOUR HIGHNESS THE PRINCE, COULD YOU TALK TO US WITH MORE DETAIL ABOUT THIS?
ANS: YES. THE KEY INDICATOR IS ECONOMIC GROWTH. SINCE WE HAVE RECEIVED THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD, OUR GROWTH RATE HAS INCREASED. I AM PROUD OF THIS ACHIEVEMENT AND I THANK ALL THOSE WHO HAVE SUPPORTED US IN THIS REFORM.. AT THE END OF THE DAY, BAHRAINI CITIZENS ARE THE MAIN BENEFICIARIES OF ANY DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMME. I WILL GIVE YOU EXAMPLES OF WHAT WE ACHIEVED. WE ESTABLISHED A SINGLE REGULATOR FOR THE BANKING AND FINANCIAL SECTOR. WE LIBERALIZED THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SECTOR AND PROVIDED SERVICES WITH LESS COST, MORE DIVERSITY AND HIGHER TECHNOLOGY. WE WERE ABLE TO ATTRACT LARGE INVESTMENTS INTO BAHRAIN IN THE BANKING SECTOR, INSURANCE AND SOME INDUSTRIES RELATED TO THE ALUMINIUM SECTOR. WE WERE ABLE TO PRIVATISE THE NEW SEA PORT, KHALIFA PORT, WHICH WAS RECENTLY OPENED. WE ARE NOW WORKING ON CONNECTING IT WITH THE CAUSEWAY AND AIRPORT. WE INITIATED A COMPREHENSIVE PROJECT AND ESTABLISHED THE LABOUR FUND (TAMKEEN) WITH A CAPITAL OF BD100 MILLION TO SUPPORT THE TRAINING OF BAHRAINI CITIZENS. WE WERE ABLE TO LAUNCH A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMME FOR UPGRADING EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN THE KINGDOM. IT IS BASED ON FIVE DISCIPLINES: WE CREATED AN INDEPENDENT BODY FOR THE SUPERVISION OF SCHOOLS. WE ESTABLISHED POLYTECHNIC, A TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY. WE LAUNCHED A PROGRAM FOR REFORMING SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN TERMS OF THEIR CAPABILITIES AND TEACHING METHODS. WE ESTABLISHED A TEACHER COLLEGE. WE IMPROVED THE STATUS OF BAHRAIN UNIVERSITY. THOSE ARE THE FIVE AREAS WE WERE ABLE TO LAUNCH UNDER THE TAG OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BECAUSE AN EDUCATED NATION IS A PRODUCTIVE NATION.
Q: YOUR HIGHNESS THE PRINCE, HOW DO YOU COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE?
ANS: BY VISITING PEOPLE MAJALIS. BEING WITH THEM DURING THEIR HAPPY AS WELL AS SAD TIMES. THESE ARE OUR CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS.
Q: YOUR HIGHNESS THE PRINCE, ARE YOU PLEASED WITH DEMOCRACY IN BAHRAIN?
ANS: OF COURSE
Q: YOUR HIGHNESS, WHO LEGISLATES AND APPROVES LAWS? THE APPOINTED COUNCIL OR THE ELECTED COUNCIL? ESPECIALLY THAT BAHRAIN HAS A SHURA AND A COUNCIL OF REPRESENTATIVES?
ANS: BOTH COUNCILS HAVE THE ABILITY OF LOOKING INTO LAWS AND DRIVING THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL COOPERATION BETWEEN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, WITH BOTH THE CHAMBERS: SHURA AND REPRESENTATIVES. BOTH HAVE RIGHTS IN PASSING LAWS. IF THE TWO DISAGREE, THEY CONVENE AND VOTE TOGETHER.
Q: IN SIGNIFICANT MATTERS, LIKE NORMALIZATION WITH ISRAEL FOR INSTANCE, WHO DECIDES?
ANS: OF COURSE, WE HAVENT COME TO THAT BRIDGE TO CROSS IT YET. BUT ON SOVEREIGN ISSUES, LIKE DEFENSE, FOREIGN AFFAIRS, THERE ARE CONSULTATIONS BETWEEN SPECIAL COMMITTEES AND THE GOVERNMENT. THE COUNCIL OF REPRESENTATIVES IS A PARTNER IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. THIS IS ITS ROLE. WE SHOULD NOT CONFUSE IT WITH THE BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM. THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE BODIES EMERGE FROM THE SAME SOURCE. THE COUNCIL OF REPRESENTATIVES IS CONCERNED WITH LEGISLATION. BY LEGISLATION IT TAKES PART IN DECISION MAKING. FOR EXAMPLE, THERE IS NO BUDGET WITHOUT A BUDGET LAW. THERE IS NO HEALTH PROGRAMME WITHOUT A HEALTH LAW OR A PROPERTY PROGRAMME FOR HOUSING AND AGRICULTURE.
Q: THE PRESENCE OF THE AMERICAN BASE IN BAHRAIN, WHO DECIDES IT AND WHO PERMITS IT?
ANS: AN AGREEMENT WITH BAHRAIN HAS BEEN SIGNED ON THIS. THIS IS NOT NEW. THIS AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED IN 1946. IF WE LOOK THIS MATTER, IT IS A CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESS LIKE ANY OTHER PROCESS. THERE HAS BEEN AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES FOR LONG DECADES.
Q: SO IS IT ANNULLED BY THE COUNCIL OF RESPRESENTATIVES? IS IT ANNULLED BY THE SUPREME COUNCIL? WILL IT BE ANNULLED ONE DAY? I AM JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE JURISDICTIONS..
ANS: WHETHER IT IS THE AMERICAN BASE OR THE PRICE OF BREAD, IT IS THE SAME PROCESS. THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESS IS CLEAR. A LAW IS PROPOSED BY THE STATE, THE SHURA COUNCIL OR THE COUNCIL OF REPRESENTATIVES. IT IS PROCESSED THROUGH ALL AUTHORITIES. AFTER IT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY ALL SIDES, IT IS TO BE RATIFIED BY HIS MAJESTY THE KING. WITHOUT THE SIGNATURE OF HIS MAJESTY, THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT VALID. WE RETURN TO THE SECOND PART OF THIS SPECIAL INTERVIEW WITH THE CROWN PRINCE OF BAHRAIN, HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE SALMAN BIN HAMAD AL KHALIFA.
Q: YOUR HIGHNESS THE PRINCE, I READ WHILE ON THE PLANE CRITICISM FOR BAHRAIN, STATING THAT PEOPLE CHANGE GOVERNMENTS BUT IN BAHRAIN THE GOVERNMENT CHANGES THE PEOPLE. THERE WERE RUMORS OR TRUE NEWS ABOUT NATURALIZATION OF SUNNI MUSLIMS IN BAHRAIN
ANS: EXAGGERATED RUMORS.
Q: EXAGGERATED RUMORS?
ANS: THERE IS NO COUNTRY THAT DOES NOT NATURALIZE BASED ON ITS NEEDS. BUT THIS TOPIC HAS BECOME SENSITIVE, BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME CONSIDER IT AS A WAY OF RETAINING BALANCE OF ONE SECT AGAINST ANOTHER, DEMOGRAPHICALLY, AND THEY MISUSE IT. EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD OPTS FOR NATURALIZATION TO OBTAIN EXPERTISE AND SKILLS. IS OUR METHOD OF NATURALIZATION FAULT-PROOF? OF COURSE NOT. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME MISTAKES, BUT THIS DOES NOT MEAN WE SHUT THIS DOOR OR LEAVE IT WIDE OPEN. IT IS WISE TO REVIEW OUR POLICIES AND FORMULATE A POLICY THAT SERVES THE INTEREST OF BAHRAIN AND NOT A CATEGORY AGAINST ANOTHER OR SPECULATIONS AGAINST SPECULATIONS.
Q: IS THE INTEREST OF BAHRAIN IN ITS DEMOGRAPHICAL BALANCE?
ANS: THE INTEREST OF BAHRAIN IS IN CREATING A FAIR AND COMPETITIVE SOCIETY CAPABLE OF SUSTAINABILITY THAT ENSURES CITIZENS A GOOD LIFE. IT MAKES CITIZENS FEEL THAT THE FUTURE OF THEIR CHILDREN IS BETTER THAN THE LIFE THEY LIVED. I WANT IT AWAY FROM SECTARIANISM AND ENDLESS SPECULATIONS.
Q. THIS WAS THE REALITY OF THE REGION AND NOT ONLY THE REALITY OF BAHRAIN?
A. IN BAHRAIN, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, IS A LEADERSHIP CAPABLE OF ACHIEVING THE BALANCE, DESPITE ALL THE DIFFICULTIES WITH THE HUMANITARIAN BAHRAINI SPIRIT OF TOLERANCE AND RELIGIOUS ETHICS ALLOWING US TO LIVE IN ONE PLACE, IN A SAFE HOME. BUT TO ALLOW INDIVIDUALS TO ENTER BAHRAIN AND DRAW US INTO A DISCUSSION, OR INSULT A GROUP OR ACCUSE A GROUP OF WRONG DOING BY ANOTHER; THIS MEANS THE ROAD TO DISASTER. BECAUSE PRIOR TO THESE PROBLEMS WE LIVED HUNDREDS OF YEARS IN THIS KINGDOM AND COEXISTED FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS. THERE ARE PROBLEMS, OF COURSE, BUT THEY ARE SIMPLE. EXAGGERATIONS AND SPECULATIONS THAT ARE NOT BASED ON FACTS, ARE FAR FROM THE REALITY OF BAHRAIN. I WILL NOW BE REALISTIC IN MY WORDS BECAUSE BAHRAIN HAS ITS OWN INDIVIDUALITY. OUR VISITORS MUST LEAVE WITH THE IMPRESSION THAT BAHRAIN IS A COUNTRY WHICH HAS A SPECIAL SPIRIT AND A SPECIAL WELCOME. I AM PROUD OF THIS BECAUSE IF ONE IS NOT PROUD OF HIS COUNTRY AND IS NOT PROUD OF HIS CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS HE IS LOST IN THIS WORLD. ON THE CONTRARY I AM CONVINCED OF OUR WORK IN BUILDING BRIDGES OF TRUST AND CONTINUATION OF EMBEDDING JUSTICE IN THE COMMUNITY FOR HOUSING, EDUCATION AND HEALTH, EDUCATION AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES. KEEPING AN EYE ON WHOEVER TRIES TO OVERTURN THIS BALANCE IS NECESSARY. WE WILL WORK TO ACHIEVE WHAT WE WANT, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF HIS MAJESTY THE KING. IN FACT I AM SURE THAT OUR SITUATION IS GOOD.
Q. HIS MAJESTY THE KING CALLED FOR NATIONAL DIALOGUE, WHAT HAPPENED WITH THAT?
A. IF I UNDERSTOOD YOU CORRECTLY YOU MEAN HE CALLED FOR A PERMANENT DIALOGUE AND WE ARE IN A PERMANENT DIALOGUE
Q. HOW DO YOU HAVE (MANAGE) A PERMANENT DIALOGUE?
A.BY HAVING SEVERAL MEETINGS BETWEEN OFFICIALS AND THE LEADERSHIPS OF CITIES AND VILLAGES, BETWEEN REPRESENTATIVES ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE, WELL KNOWN PEOPLE, RELIGIOUS SCHOLARS AND PEOPLE WHO HAD SERVED IN THE COMMUNITY. THE PROCESS OF DECISION MAKING IN BAHRAIN INVOLVES ALL SIDES. OUR NATIONAL DECISIONS ARE AN OPINION WE ALL AGREE ON.
Q. LET US BE CLEARER. YOU KNOW NOW THAT THE FASHION (TREND) IN THE ARAB WORLD IS THAT THE SHIITES ARE SUPPORTED BY THE IRANIANS. THIS MEANS WE WILL BE TALKING SHORTLY AFTER ABOUT THE STORY OF THE HOUTHIS AND YEMEN ETC. THE SITUATION OF SHIITES IN BAHRAIN. DO YOU HAVE INFORMATION THAT THERE IS IRANIAN SUPPORT FOR THE SHIITES OF BAHRAIN?
A. DO WE JUST LABEL ALL RAB SHIITES AS BEING BACKED BY IRAN?
Q. ARABS MADE A GRAVE MISTAKE WITH IRAQ ON THIS TOPIC.
A. DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO BE ACCUSED. FIRST SHIISM IS ONE OF THE DOCTRINES (SECTS) OF ISLAM. THE JA’FARI DOCTRINE
A. TRUE
Q. WE DIFFER WITH THEM ON THE WAYS OF INDUCTION AND THE VERDICTS FROM SHARIA. ONLY! BUT TO ACCUSE THEM OF BEING NON-ARABS, AND RIDDING THEMSELVES OF THE ARABIC IDENTITY, AND IDENTIFYING THEM WITH IRAN OR NOT IRAN BECAUSE WE DISAGREE WITH THEM. PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS FOLLOW THE IDEAS AVAILABLE IN THE REGION. WE HAVE SUNNIS FOLLOWING IDEAS FROM IRAN, FROM IRAQ, BY CHINA, BY RUSSIA AND BY THE UNITED STATES. WE MUST NOT LINK A PARTICULAR POLITICAL IDEOLOGY WITH A SECT. THIS IS A MISTAKE. A BIG MISTAKE … AND THIS DOES NOT RESPECT THIS DOCTRINE (SECT), BECAUSE POLITICS IS TIMELY AND DOCTRINES AND RELIGION ARE PERMANENT. I HOPE THAT ALL OFFICIALS, IN FACT ALL JOURNALISTS IN THE REGION AVOID THIS TALK. BECAUSE WHEN WE BEGIN TO CLASSIFY PEOPLE IN THIS WAY , LETS SPEAK RIGHTFULLY. RELIGION IS ABOVE ALL. THE DANGER IN IT IS THAT A PERSON IS WILLING TO DO HORRIBLE THINGS IN DEFENSE OF THESE PRINCIPLES, WHICH MAKES NO SENSE BECAUSE EVENTUALLY THE THING WHICH WE DISAGREE ON IS POLITICS, NOT RELIGION.
Q. HOWEVER, WILL YOU BE AFFECTED BY A WAR ON IRAN, FOR EXAMPLE?
A. THE ENTIRE REGION AND NOT ONLY BAHRAIN ALONE WOULD BE AFFECTED.
Q. BAHRAIN SPECIFICALLY?
A. WE ARE ALL AFFECTED.
Q. DID YOU READ THE NEWS THAT WAS PUBLISHED A FEW DAYS AGO IN AL AYAM NEWSPAPER THAT SAYS THAT BRITAIN WARNS BAHRAIN FROM DIRECT ACTION AND THE UAE FROM CHAOS IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENS WITH REGARD TO IRAN?
A. I HAVE NOT READ BUT THIS MEANS AND ANY SANE PERSON KNOWS THAT IT IS A SMALL REGION AND THE ARAB GULF REGION IS NOT A REGION WHERE WAR COULD TAKE PLACE AND NOT BE AFFECTED. WE WERE AFFECTED BY THE WAR AGAINST, TWO WARS AGAINST IRAQ. WE WERE AFFECTED BY THE WAR BETWEEN IRAN AND IRAQ … HOW DO WE NOT SUFFER FROM ANY ACTION AGAINST IRAN.
Q. DO YOU FOLLOW UP ON WHAT IS HAPPENING IN IRAN ON A DAILY BASIS? WHAT IS GOING ON? THE IRANIAN AMBASSADOR SPOKE IN BAHRAIN ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF A THIRD ROW AND THAT HE WAS WORKING TO FUEL ALL THESE DEMONSTRATIONS.
A. INSIDE IRAN … I’M NOT AN EXPERT ON THE INTERNAL SITUATION OF IRAN AND MAY GOD HELP THEM. OF COURSE WE WISH SECURITY AND STABILITY FOR ALL OUR NEIGHBORS AND WE AFFIRM AGAIN THAT THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE CALL THE GOOD-NEIGHBOURLY RELATIONSHIP, REQUIRE US TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND TRY TO HELP IF ASKED. HOWEVER, THE SITUATION BECOMES UNCOMFORTABLE IF THERE WAS BIDDING ON WHAT IS HAPPENING. I THINK THE BEST THING IS TO LET THE IRANIAN PEOPLE AND IRANIAN CITIZEN DECIDE THEIR FATE AND NOT INTERFERE IN THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF A STATE, BECAUSE ANY WORD SPOKEN FOR OR AGAINST COULD POSSIBLY BE CONSTRUED BY ANY PARTY AS INTERFERENCE OR WHAT IS CALLED THIRD ROW. AS WE ARE AN INDEPENDENT STATE, WE KNOW WELL WHAT IS RELATED TO US. AS FOR IRAN, IT ALSO HAS ITS OWN INDIVIDUALITY AND MAY GOD HELP TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS AND BY GOD WILL THEY WILL RESOLVE THEM.
Q. IT IS KNOWN THAT YOU HAVE A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH SAUDI ARABIA. BUT YOU KNOW THAT THE KINGDOM TODAY ALSO HAS PROBLEMS WITH HOUTHIS WHO ENTERED ITS BORDERS AND THERE IS A KIND OF WAR. JEFFREY FELTMAN WAS IN BAHRAIN IN THE MANAMA DIALOGUE AND SAID WE HAVE NO INFORMATION OR ANYTHING ASSURES THAT THE HOUTHIS SOURCE OF STRENGTH IS IRAN. FIRST, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF WHAT JEFFREY FELTMAN SAID AND SECONDLY, HOW DO YOU SEE THIS WAR WITH THE HOUTHIS COULD THE ISSUE BE SOLVED MILITARILY OR THERE MUST BE ANOTHER SOLUTION.
A. JEFFREY FELTMAN OPINION OF COURSE, IS JEFFREY FELTMAN OPINION. WELL I CAN NOT SPEAK ABOUT HIS OPINION, BUT I CAN SAY THAT SAUDI ARABIA HAS FULL RIGHT TO DEFEND ITS TERRITORY AND THIS MEANS A LEGITIMATE RIGHT FROM THE UNITED NATIONS .. WE TODAY HEARD ABOUT INTRUDERS AND THE SECURITY PROBLEM CAUSED BY THEM. WE WERE READY TO GO AND PARTICIPATE WITH THEM, BUT SAUDI ARABIA BY VIRTUE OF ITS WEIGHT AND STRATEGIC DEPTH IT IS READY TO DEAL WITH THIS REALITY AND CONSTANT.
Q. HOW DO YOU PARTICIPATE? DO YOU DISPATCH FORCES?
A. YES, IF IN ANY NEED OF COURSE WE ARE READY
Q. TO FIGHT, WITH THE SAUDIS?
A. YES
Q. IN YOUR OPINION WILL MILITARY ACTION BE DECISIVE?
A. BUT WE MUST DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN THE TWO PROBLEMS. ONE IS RELATED TO A BORDER ISSUE WITH SAUDI ARABIA AND THE OTHER IS AN INTERNAL YEMENI ISSUE THAT MUST BE SOLVED BY THE BROTHERS IN YEMEN. IF WE TALK ABOUT BORDER ISSUES THEN YES A MILITARY SOLUTION. IF WE TALKED ABOUT THE HOUTHI ISSUE AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR OFFICIAL AND SOCIETY IN YEMEN, THEN THIS IS AN ISSUE A MILITARY SOLUTION ALONE WOULD NOT SOLVE. IT IS OBLIGATORY THAT THERE BE A POLITICAL SOLUTION IN THE END, FOR SURE.
Q. IN YOUR OPINION IS AL QAEDA ALLIED WITH THE HOUTHIS ON THIS TOPIC
A. GOD KNOWS, AT THE MOMENT I DO NOT HAVE ANY INFORMATION TO PROVE THIS OR OTHERWISE.
Q. THE FINAL PART OF THIS EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH CROWN PRINCE OF BAHRAIN. YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS THE GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL IN A STATEMENT SAID THEY SUPPORT THE BAHRAINI CANDIDATE. WE DO NOT KNOW THE DETAILS AND PROBLEMS THAT HAPPENED. CAN YOU SHED LIGHT WHETHER MR. MOHAMMED AL MUTAWA WOULD BE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL IN 2011?
A. YES, BY THE WILL OF GOD AND IF HE IS PRESENT HE IS THE SECRETARY GENERAL, YES.
Q. WHAT HAPPENED ABOUT THE BRIDGE WITH QATAR? THE FIRST TIME I CAME TO BAHRAIN A FEW YEARS AGO I WAS REALLY SURPRISED BY THE SAUDI ARABIA CAUSEWAY.
A. EXCELLENT
Q. IT WAS SAID THAT THERE WOULD BE ANOTHER BRIDGE WITH QATAR. WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS PROJECT?
A. THE PROJECT IS PROCEEDING AS PLANNED. THERE IS A SPECIALISED AUTHORITY TO FOLLOW-UP ON THIS PROJECT AND NOW IT IS IN THE FINAL STAGE OF COMPLETING THE STUDIES FOR IT.
Q. IT WILL BECOME BAHRAIN AND THE TWO BRIDGES
A. WHY NOT? GOD WILLING THE BRIDGE FOR THE REGION AND THE WORLD.
Q. WE HAVE IN LEBANON, AN AREA CALLED MULTAQA AL NAHRAIN (BETWEEN THE TWO RIVERS) THAT WE ARE PROUD OF. NOW WHOEVER COMES TO BAHRAIN SEES TWO SEAS AND TWO BRIDGES.
Q. YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS AS I SAID EARLIER, THE SUBJECT OF THE WASHINGTON POST YOU SAID THAT ARAB POLITICIANS MUST APPEAR ON ISRAELI MEDIA AND CONVINCE THE ISRAELI PEOPLE ON PEACE. OF COURSE YOU REALISE THAT NATIONALISTS CONSIDERED THAT YOU WERE SEEKING NORMALIZATION.
A. AT THE PEAK OF THE COLD WAR BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE SOVIET UNION THEY USED TO COME OUT AND TALK. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY AND THE PERSON WHO IS INCAPABLE TO ACCOMMODATE ANY OF THAT, WHEN YOU HAVE THE RIGHT AND YOU HAVE A JUST CAUSE LIKE THE PALESTINIAN CAUSE, A STOLEN LAND, A KILLING OCCUPATION, BLACKMAIL, ALL THE BAD THINGS IN THE WORLD. TWO STRONG ISSUES OCCUR IN THIS REGION, AND WE WERE AFRAID. A FOREIGN JOURNALIST, I WILL NOT MENTION FROM WHICH COUNTRY, SAID TO ME YOU ARABS ARE COWARDS. I ASKED HIM WHY? HE SAID YES YOU ARE COWARDS YOU HIDE FROM REALITY AND DO NOT CONFRONT. WHY DO YOU NOT COME OUT AND TALK IN THE MEDIA. WHY WHEN YOU SEE A PERSON FROM YOUR ENEMIES YOU DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ARGUE WITH THEM AND PUT AN END TO THIS KILLING? ARE YOU AFRAID FOR YOUR POLITICAL STATUS?
Q. OR A RECOGNITION OF THE RIGHT OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL ON THE HISTORIC LAND OF PALESTINE?
A. WE RECOGNISE AND ARE COMMITTED TO INTERNATIONAL LEGITIMACY AND THE CREATION OF TWO STATES SIDE BY SIDE AND NO ONE CAN TELL YOU ANYTHING ELSE. THIS IS A DECISION BY THE ARAB LEAGUE AND THE OFFICIAL WHO DOES NOT TELL YOU THIS, LIES.
Q. ARE YOU READY TO APPEAR ON ISRAELI TELEVISION?
A. OF COURSE, BUT WITH AN OBJECTIVE AND DURING THE APPROPRIATE TIME. YES I AM READY.
Q. THIS MEANS IT IS POSSIBLE TO SAY THAT THERE WAS AN UPHEAVAL AGAINST YOU. THERE WERE SEVERAL STAGES OF THE SO-CALLED NORMALISATION WITH ISRAEL. BAHRAINI CITIZENS WERE ARRESTED IN ISRAEL AND A BAHRAINI DELEGATION WENT TO ISRAEL AND BROUGHT THEM BACK.
A. THANK GOD FOR THE RETURN OF OUR CITIZENS AND THEIR SAFETY
Q. BUT YOU WENT TO ISRAEL WHEN YOU COULD HAVE BROKERED MEDIATION THROUGH GERMANY, FOR EXAMPLE WITH WHAT HAPPENED WITH HEZBOLLAH?
A. AND DELAY THEM TWO TO THREE DAYS AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILY.
Q. HOW DID BAHRAINIS PERCEIVE THIS?
A. SPECULALTIONS ARE POSSIBLE. THOSE WHO WANT TO SPECULATE CAN DO SO. RATIONAL PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND THE POLITICAL REALITY KNOW AND APPRECIATE.
Q. BAHRAIN’S FOREIGN MINISTER ALSO SAID THERE WILL BE A REGIONAL ORGANIZATION, AS IN THE CASE AT THE UNITED NATIONS?
A. WHAT I AM SAYING IS TO FACE THE ENEMY AND PLACING IT UNDER THE STATUS QUO. THERE ARE ARABS WHO WANT PEACE AND NO PARTNER EXISTS, WHY?
Q. THERE ARE NO ISRAELIS WHO WANT PEACE?
A. THERE ARE MANY WHO WANT PEACE BUT THE POLITICAL LEADERSHIP IN ISRAEL IS NOT ABLE TO MOVE IN THIS DIRECTION.
Q. BUT THE PALESTINIANS HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE ISRAELIS AND SAT WITH THEM ON THE SAME TABLE AND HELD NEGOTIATIONS AND APPEARED IN THEIR MEDIA AND THIS THING RESULTED TO NOTHING YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS.
A. BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THEY DISAGREED AND THERE WAS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM. OBVIOUSLY WHEN I WROTE THE ARTICLE THE DISAGREEMENT HAD NOT REACHED THE LEVEL IT HAD REACHED.
Q. YES, 5 MONTHS AGO
A. REGARDLESS OF THE ARTICLE, WE AS ARABS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR HELPING OUR PALESTINIAN BRETHREN TO UNITE, RETURN TO THE ONE FAMILY SPIRIT, RETURN TO THEIR ARAB BROTHERS AND GIVE US THEIR POINT OF VIEW ON HOW TO REACH A SOLUTION. IWE HOPE TO HEAR OF EFFORTS IN COMING WEEKS TO ACHIEVE THIS AND HOPE THAT THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED. I AM ASSURED.
Q. HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN YOU SAW THE PICTURE OF KHALED MESHAAL AND PRINCE SAUD AL FAISAL A. THANK GOD. Q. WHAT IS THE POLITICAL EXPLANATION FOR THIS?
A. THE POLITICAL INTERPRETATION IS THAT ALL PALESTINIANS MUST AGREE AND HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR ARAB BROTHERS AND IF THEY ARE READY WITH REASONABLE AND RESPONSIBLE POSITIONS, WE ARE ALL SUPPORTIVE TO THEM.
Q. BETWEEN YOU AND YOURSELF, DO YOU THINK THERE IS A PALESTINIAN SOLUTION? DO YOU SEE THAT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY? I DO NOT WANT TO SAY A SOLUTION. IS THERE ANY HOPE TO RESUMPTION OF NEGOTIATIONS?
A. OF COURSE, PALESTINE AND ALL THE RIGHTS AND THE BEST SOLUTION ARE DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE.
Q. IN PEACE
A. IN PEACE I BELIEVE YES.
Q. ON THE BASIS OF TWO STATES?
A. YES, TWO STATES LIVING SIDE BY SIDE
Q. DO YOU NOT THINK THAT THIS SUBJECT HAD DIED AND ENDED?
A. IS WAR A PERMANENT NEED?
Q. NO, BUT DOES A TWO-STATE SOLUTION MEAN ON THE PALESTINE LAND?
A. NO. THE POPULAR PALESTINIAN DEMAND FOR A STATE WILL NOT BE FADE AWAY. THIS DEMAND EMANATES FROM THE PROFOUND NATIONAL SPIRIT AND DOES NOT DISAPPEAR IN DAY AND NIGHT. HOW DOES IT END? DO YOU THINK THAT HAMAS IN GAZA AND THE AUTHORITY IN THE WEST BANK, WILL REACH RECONCILIATION SOON?
A. YES THEY HAVE TO. RECONCILIATION IS A MUST. THEIR DISPUTE SHOULD NOT CONTINUE UNDER OCCUPATION. THERE ARE THOSE, WHO BELIEVE THAT NETANYAHU WON OVER OBAMA ON THE SUBJECT OF PALESTINE?
A. WE DO NOT TALK ABOUT A TERM THAT HAS NOT EXCEEDED A FEW MONTHS . THE PALESTINIAN ISSUE IS NOT NETANYAHU ISSUE NOR OBAMA’S ISSUE. THIS IS AN ISSUE WHICH HAS BEEN THERE FOR DECADES. WE ALL HAVE A ROLE IN THIS PROCESS AND THE UNITED STATES HAS A FUNDAMENTAL ROLE AND IS TRYING AT THE MOMENT. AND YES, THE U.S. PRESIDENT TOOK AN UNPRECEDENTED STANCE IN THE UNITED NATIONS, IN CAIRO, AND EVERYWHERE.
Q. IT ENDED
A. IT IS NOT OVER AND TALKS, LIKE YOU MAY HEAR, COULD BE UNDERWAY IN THE END. IF THERE IS AN AGREEMENT AMERICA WILL BE ON THE TABLE, WE ALL KNOW THAT ITS ROLE DID NOT END, BUT IS A BIT SILENT DURING THIS TIME.
Q. YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS MY LAST QUESTION. ARE YOU A FAN OF THE UNITED STATES?
A. I ADMIRE THE ADVANCEMENT OF COURSE OF THE UNITED STATES. IN THE UNITED STATES THERE ARE MANY EXCELLENT THINGS THAT INCLUDE MEDICINE, SCIENCE AND PROTECTION OF INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND THE ABILITY TO PROMOTE INNOVATION AND ATTAINING RAPID FUNDING FOR THE CONVERSION OF IDEAS INTO REALITY. WE MUST NOT FORGET THAT THE BIGGEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD TODAY IS THE ECONOMY OF THE UNITED STATES. THIS WAS NOT RANDOM BUT THROUGH A STRUCTURAL SYSTEM THAT LEAD TO THIS RESULT. OF COURSE, THE SOCIETY HAS TOO MANY PROBLEMS. THERE IS NO PROTECTION FOR THOSE WITH LOW INCOME. THERE IS NO SECURITY AND HEALTH AS SHOULD BE. THAT IS WHAT EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT.
Q. ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THE ADMINISTRATION’S NEW POLICY?
A. YES
Q. ARE YOU AFRAID FOR BAHRAIN
A. FROM?
Q. REGIONAL WARS AFFECTING IT?
A. I AM WATCHFUL BUT NOT AFRAID FOR BAHRAIN.
Q. HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE SALMAN BIN HAMAD AL KHALIFA, CROWN PRINCE OF BAHRAIN THANK YOU FOR THIS EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
A. THANK YOU