MANAMA – Bahrain has stressed the importance of communication and direct meeting initiative with all components of political work, underlining its key role in achieving real progress towards a national consensus.

Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa described on Saturday that political pluralism as the cornerstone of democratic practice and its continuous development in order to bring about more achievements and promote the right of political participation for all.

He pointed out a recent symposium held by Bahrain Centre for Strategic Studies, and other similar functions, describing them as an added value to the relentless efforts to ensure communication between political societies and the Civil Society institutions, so as to pave the way for a constructive and an all-inclusive dialogue.

He underscored the open-door policy anchored by the royal reform project as a constant approach to manage different visions and achieve national consensuses.

Regarding the Non-Violence Document, which was adopted by political societies, he underscored the importance of denouncing explicitly and decisively acts of sabotage and terrorism without providing any form of cover for it.

The justice minister affirmed the need to respect the law in order to boost security and stability and provide a favourable background for dialogue.

He said violence and anarchy can never lead to progress, adding “continuous acts of vandalism underlines the need to continue building on any step towards renouncing violence. He emphasised the key role that has to be played by religious clerics towards those forbidden and incriminated acts.

He also affirmed that the Justice Ministry will continue to keep in touch with political societies to pave the way for joint meetings, including all parties of political work, and lay the ground for a transparent, unconditional and purposeful dialogue.

shamada@khaleejtimes.com