National Dialogue Will Engage all Parties, Says HRH Crown Prince
The national dialogue will involve all components, beyond any exclusion or dictation whatsoever, for the sake of the nation first and foremost, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown and Deputy Supreme Commander said, stressing that “We are all Bahrainis. No Sunnis. No Shiites”.
HRH Crown Prince said that dialogue, for which he was assigned by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, will not exclude any party or group and no one will dictate anything on anyone, emphasizing that the objective was achieving the higher interests of the nation. HRH Crown Prince told a delegation from the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry he received at Riffa Palace yesterday that Bahrain was facing formidable challenges and stressed that it is everyone’s duty to achieve genuine reforms where equality holds a special significance.
It is important that all should take their responsibilities seriously and avoid all forms of outbidding from any one, stressing that Bahrain needed calm and constructive national dialogue.HRH Crown Prince said that the current circumstances require cohesion among the people, a robust determination, a clear vision, action for genuine reforms, respect of all views and the inclusion of all in the nationwide dialogue.”I call for calm to foil the attempts of those who plot to cause friction,” he said. Bahrain now needs cohesion in order to avoid sectarian rifts that could cause the country to suffer and create tragedies, he said. HRH Crown Prince said that the people’s interests were directly linked to success in asserting calm and launching a national dialogue.”The Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry represents the largest section of the Bahrain economy, and as such, you should safeguard these interests and trust in the honest and positive intentions,” he said.
HRH Crown Prince said that all political parties should be consulted on the reform programme and expressed his eagerness to get their positive response. We should then discuss all issues, he said, adding that Bahrainis should not miss this golden opportunity. They should work together and not allow their efforts to be dispersed, “Reforms are a necessity and must include every citizen,” he said. “I want to hear from you and understand your concerns. There has to be direct communication between us. Your views are important and we should work together,” Prince Salman said.
The BCCI delegation stressed the signficance of the meeting and expressed their confidence that Bahrain will overcome the current situation thanks to the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.The BCCI said that all parties should respond positively to the initiative launched by HRH Prince Salman and work on easing the situation and place Bahrain’s interests above anything else. The delegation members said they remained committed to their pledge towards Bahrain and to working on defeating all forms of sectarianism and divisions threatening Bahrain’s unity.
