OPPOSITION societies are continuing to hold up Bahrain’s National Dialogue, a top government official said
yesterday.

Despite the fact that consensus has been reached on several key issues, some participants have been backtracking and trying to set pre-conditions, said Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa.

“We all need to be committed and serious to agree the draft agenda of the talks, which will help us know the timeframe and work on the implementations of its outcomes,” he told reporters during a Press conference after a session of the dialogue’s working group.

Serious

“We need to have a serious dialogue and cannot bring forward issues that were previously agreed by the
participants.

“There can be no backtracking or pre-conditions set by political societies that puts us in a stalemate or stops progress.”

The working group session was held with the aim of drafting points for inclusion in the final agenda.

“Statements out of context by participants or any negative language does not serve the seriousness of the talks,” Shaikh Khalid warned.

Speaking about repeated demands from the coalition of opposition groups for direct representation from the country’s leadership in the talks, the minister said participants had previously agreed that the government, legislative authority and political societies would participate.

“We are clear and will not allow any stalemate and any pre-condition now as it is not right. Matters already agreed upon cannot be open for discussion,” he said.

“The outcomes of the dialogue after participants reaching consensus will be presented to His Majesty King Hamad.

“For the common man, I can say that much has been achieved and we hope that all participants adhere and be open to others with good intentions.

“Political societies despite having differences are taking part in the talks.”

Shaikh Khalid said during yesterday’s session that participants agreed on the mechanisms that would regulate the talks and how decisions would be implemented in line with the
constitution.

Participants also decided to set up a follow-up committee that will work towards implementing the outcome of the talks.

Dialogue spokesman Isa Abdulrahman said a major chunk of yesterday’s session was spent debating the difference of opinion about the leadership’s representation in the talks.

“We have completed more than six sessions and still there is no clear picture on the agenda, which is important for all parties to agree and move forward,” said MP Latifa Al Gaoud.

She backed the view that opposition groups were “slowing down the process” and wasting time.

“There should be a consensus reached by now on the agenda of the dialogue as we all have attended enough sessions,” she said.

Majeed Milad, who represented Al Wefaq National Islamic Society, said coalition members did not sign the minutes of the meeting as they wanted proper discussion on the pending topics.

sandy@gdn.com.bh