Geneva, Mar. 2. (BNA) — Geneva, Mar. 2. (BNA) – On the sidelines of the high-level panel of the 22nd session of the Human Rights Council, currently held here, the kingdom’s delegation, led by the Human Rights Affairs Minister Dr. Salah bin Ali Abdulrahman, held a meeting with the Head of the Regional Office of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific and North Africa Hani Al-Majali, in the presence of Fraj Fneish and Giorgia Brignone.

During the meeting, Dr. Salah Ali hailed the solid cooperation and coordination between Bahrain and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, citing the positive outcome of the OHCHR’s technical team’s visit to the kingdom in December, 2012.

He also confirmed that the kingdom’s doors are wide-open for the visits of international human rights organization, emphasizing that neutrality and impartiality are basic pillars of professional human rights work since, he said, some sides’ tendency to side with one party against the others makes their work imbalanced and subjective.

In this regard, he noted that some human rights organisations disseminate misleading information because they seek security information from incredible sources, calling upon them to be credible, objective and fair so as to be able to issue trusty and balanced reports.

He said that Bahrain welcomes the forthcoming visit of the delegation of the OHCHR in 2013, noting that the visit will enhance cooperation and coordination with the kingdom and offer an opportunity for the members of the delegation to be informed about the country’s landmark human rights achievements.

He also reviewed with the members of OHCHR the on-going National Consensus Dialogue on the political theme in which all social segments are taking part, explaining that the dialogue builds on the national efforts exerted over the past period to consolidate the democratic practices in the kingdom in order to optimize the milestone gains attained thanks to HM the King’s enlightened vision and the government’s unlimited support.

He underlined that Bahrain has made qualitative leaps in the field of human rights protection, noting that the kingdom’s response to the calls to enhance the independence of the National Institution for Human Rights , one of the fruits of the National Consensus Dialogue and the recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI), is an evidence of that.

He affirmed that Bahrain has succeeded in implementing about 75% of BICI recommendations, pointing out that the constitutional amendments were approved by the representatives of the Bahraini people in the Representatives and Shura Councils.

The Human Rights Affairs Minister stressed the need to reject the violence and social division culture based on hatred and exclusion rhetoric, noting that the rift caused by regretful events that gripped the kingdom in February and March, 2011, required Bahrain to put forward plans to restore and foster national unity and cohesion.

He also called for calm and avoidance of friction and attempts to drag youths to street violence in order to pave the way for the success of the on-going National Consensus Dialogue.

On his part, Mr. Hani Al-Majali said that the OHCHR welcomes cooperation with the kingdom and the on-going National Dialogue.

He also lauded the steps taken by Bahrain to consolidate human rights, adding that he is looking forward for more positive steps in this regard.

WHQ