HRH CROWN PRINCE LAUNCHES NATIONAL DIALOGUE TO RESOLVE SITUATION IN BAHRAIN
Appearing on Bahrain national television today, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa appealed to all Bahrainis to engage in a national dialogue to address all issues that have led to the current situation in Bahrain.Addressing the events of the past week in Bahrain, the Crown Prince said: “I offer my condolences to the people of Bahrain for the painful days they are living.”
Calling for calm, he said: “We need a period of time to assess what has happened so that we can regroup and gather together, regain our compassion, civilisation and future.”Looking at the current situation, the Crown Prince said: “We are today at a crossroads. Some people go out, believing they have no future in the country and others go out driven by cordiality and keenness on preserving the nation’s achievements.“However, this nation is not for only one section – it is not for Sunnis or Shias. It is for Bahrain and for Bahrainis.”
The Crown Prince went further, describing recent events as unrecognisible as Bahrain, he said: “I never expected to have such a situation in Bahrain.“Good morals have to prevail and everybody should exercise self-restraint at this moment. This applies to the military forces, the security forces and the citizens of Bahrain.”The Crown Prince emphasised that the dialogue that he will lead will be permanently open, reforms would continue and stressed that all parties were invited to engage in the dialogue. The only limit to dialogue would be the “mutual acceptance by all sides”.Following the Crown Prince’s appearance, His Majesty King Hamad made an announcement confirming that the Crown Prince was to lead a dialogue with all parties and sections of Bahrain, without exception.
HRH Prince Salman: Peace be upon you. I offer my condolences to the people of Bahrain for the painful days that we are living. I would like to address a message to every citizen, a message for all people to calm down. We need a period of time to assess what has happened so that we can regroup and gather together, regain our compassion, civilization and future. We are today at crossroads. Some young people go out, believing they have no future in the country and others go out driven by cordiality and keenness on preserving the nation’s achievements.
However, this nation is not for only one section. It is not for Sunnis or Shias. It is for Bahrain and for Bahrainis. In these moments, every loyal person has to say “enough”. It is difficult to regain what we have lost these days, but I am convinced with the work of loyal people that we will be able. We know the past incidents and days, but we hope that everyone with good intentions will succeed because I personally did not feel we were in Bahrain. I
have never expected to have such a situation in Bahrain.Good morals have to prevail and everybody should exercise self-restraint at this moment. This applies to the military forces, the security men and the citizens.This is an open and spontaneous call from my heart.I love this country and I do know that you love it too. This country is for all people. Your dignity, beloved citizens, is very important to me, and your trust in one another is even more significant. We need to start confidence-building measures promptly. We simply cannot live more days like this and descend into chaos.
Sawasan Al Shaer: Is there a ceiling to sacrifices? Is there (a policy of) this is allowed and this is not allowed? Or do we have an open dialogue?
HRH Prince Salman: The dialogue is permanently open and reforms are continuing.
Sawasan Al Shaer: Do you think that the pace of change is slow?
HRH Prince Salman: Of course it is slow. If it had not been slow, we would not have been in this situation. We need a period of introspection and ask ourselves: What should we do to make sure there is no repeat of this deplorable situation?
Ibrahim Bashmi: We hear now about events on the streets and people demonstrating. How can we stop this now at this stage?
Sawasan Al Shaer: What are the priorities? What are your orders?
HRH Prince Salman: Calm from all parties.
Sawasan Al Shaer: Will the forces be pulled out of the streets?
HRH Prince Salman: Anyone who hurls a stone should stop. Any man who fires a bullet should stop. Stop, stop. This does not help anyone.
Sawasan Al Shaer: Was there an order to pullout the security forces from the street?
HRH Prince Salman: We are now talking about how to calm things down. Chaos does not help making spontaneous decisions. However, I do pledge that things will be calm and that the situation will be back to normal. We just need to sit and talk.
Sawasan Al Shaer: Had such a dialogue been offered before?
HRH Prince Salman: God be my witness, not under this manner. We have seen how far people are willing to stretch. Several countries have descended into civil wars, and many countries have disintegrated from the inside because there were no sensible people who told them to stop. There are good intentions from all parties.
Sawasan Al Shaer: Was there a two-sided dialogue.
HRH Prince Salman: It has to include several sides.
Sawasan Al Shaer: This is what we want to say. There are people in the country who do not have a voice. Is there a specific plan or vision, a national forum, for instance?
HRH Prince Salman: There is no plan yet and we are not in a natural state. Now is the time for calm. Enough lives have been lost.
Sawasan Al Shaer: These are all our sons. We do not condone it. Is there a statement for those who feel they are targeted or oppressed or that the security forces are used exclusively against them? What can you tell them?
HRH Prince Salman: Of course they are our sons. We will stop everyone who attacks another person. I do not have sects. I have Bahraini Muslims. I do not categorize people as Sunnis or Shias. However, Bahrain is a divided nation. People who have been friends for years do not talk with one another because of the incidents. This is an escalation that we not want. We are members of the Gulf Cooperation Council. We are a part of the open world. Bahrain has never considered itself a police state. Mistakes and escalation had been made, but we have fixed them. Today, we are at a crossroad. I do not ever accept that the sons of the same nation fight one another.
Ibrahim Bashmi: I believe that this personal initiative that has made you come here to the studio is for the sake of all the people. I believe that citizens are optimistic about you helping to put an end to what is happening on the street. They will heed the call that you have just made.
Sawasan Al Shaer: What are the guarantees? They will say that these are mere promises and will ask for guarantees.
HRH Prince Salman: I have never lied, God be my witness. All my life, I have served only this country. I will continue to serve this country and its Sunni, Shia and other citizens.
Sawasan Al Shaer: So, a call has been issued to all people to vacate the streets?
HRH Prince Salman: We need calm. Give a chance to think. Sawasan Al Shaer: Starting when?
HRH Prince Salman: Right now. This evening, if there is something, if we can. Just give us time. God, all praise be to Him, created the world in seven days. We cannot solve a years-old problem in a matter of hours.
Sawasan Al Shaer: Is there a ceiling to the dialogue?
HRH Prince Salman: The limit is the mutual acceptance by all sides. The ceiling will be defined by the respect of the others’ views. We are neither a country where there are only Sunnis who get whatever they want nor a country where there are only Shias who get whatever they want. We are a nation of Bahrainis where everyone respects everyone.
Sawasan Al Shaer: There are several parties in this country. With all due respect to His Majesty the King, Your Royal Highness, HRH the Prime Minister and the Royal Family, there are numerous other parties in the country. Al Wefaq acts as it is the only party. Meetings cannot be bilateral.
HRH Prince Salman: I do not want to blame anyone. I respect Al Wefaq, like I respect all others. Today is the time to sit and talk, not the time for struggle.
Sawasan Al Shaer: The table is wide enough to accommodate everybody. There is ample space for everybody. There is welfare for everybody. Your Royal Highness, people want to hear from you. People want to hear that there is hope for our children and our collective future.
HRH Prince Salman: That is what we want for our people.
Ibrahim Bashmi: We do not want to clone the experiences of other countries.
HRH Prince Salman: No, we will have our own experience. Ibrahim Bashmi: There us need to assert calm to put an end to what happened on the streets.
HRH Prince Salman: Let us go back to our traditions and customs, visit one another and communicate.
Sawasan Al Shaer: There is a lot of good in people. People have a lot of hope. We urge all wise people from all parties. What do you tell those who fuel the tension by showing off against the others?
HRH Prince Salman: Both parties are wrong and I see this as treason to the nation. Today, everybody has to calm down. Anyone who does not take a stance now will never take a stance because this is the most critical day in our lives. This is what I have to say and may God grant everybody success.
Sawasan Al Shaer: You coming here is the biggest guarantee. Your spontaneous attitudes and your sentiments have really touched us all. I do not think that there is anyone who does not feel deep inside they are secure, and, we hope that it is not too late. Bahrain has seen more critical times.
HRH Prince Salman: Not during my lifetime. Sawasan Al Shaer: We hope that this is the last time for sorrows. We offer our condolences to the families of every victim. We want to give our sons and daughters a secure nation. Let us take lessons from what happened around us. I thank you.
HRH Prince Salman: This is our duty, and the duty of every loyal citizen, Sunni or Shia. I want to see all brothers this evening. Anyone who has a sense of patriotism, please come forward and speak out. Do not be afraid.
Sawasan Al Shaer: This is direct communication.
HRH Prince Salman: I have given my message.
Sawasan Al Shaer: Pulling out of the streets, and everybody, please ensure calm and quietness. We will all, with God’s help, reach common ground.
HRH Prince Salman: With God’s will. Thank you
Bashmi: Thank you
Sawasan Al Shaer: Thank You
