The United States and the European Union on Monday welcomed Bahrain’s newly launched national dialogue involving the country’s key political players, and expressed hopes that the initiative would succeed in resolving the ongoing political crisis in the Gulf kingdom.
US State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told a press briefing on Monday that the United States welcomes the start of the national dialogue in Bahrain, and stated that Washington was “encouraged by the broad participation of Bahraini political groups in the dialogue.”
“We view the dialogue as a positive step in a broader process that can result in meaningful reform that meets the aspirations of all of Bahrain’s citizens. We believe that efforts to promote engagement and reconciliation among Bahrainis are necessary to long-term stability,” she added.
Meanwhile, EU Foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton also welcomed the resumption of national Dialogue in Bahrain on Sunday and expressed hopes that the “discussions will meet the legitimate expectations of all Bahrainis.”
Ashton stressed that the success of the national dialogue depends heavily on constructive cooperation between the Bahraini government, the opposition and all Bahraini citizens. She urged all involved parties to engage in a meaningful dialogue that is as inclusive as possible and without preconditions.
“I call on all parties to refrain from inciting violence and to reject it unequivocally in all its forms. I firmly believe that the dialogue between the parties is the best way to rebuild trust and to achieve genuine national reconciliation by tackling outstanding issues and socioeconomic grievances, thereby preparing the ground for sustainable reforms,” Ashton added.
Incidentally, the closed-door national dialogue had opened at a tourist resort south of Bahrain’s capital city Manama on Sunday. Notably, the opposition agreed at the last minute to join the talks. They also agreed to attend the talks when they resume on Wednesday, but are yet to commit to further participation in the process.
The developments come amidst continued street protests by opposition activists to mark the second anniversary of the 2011 pro-democracy protests that broke out in Bahrain as a fallout of the ‘Arab Spring’ that saw the toppling of entrenched rulers in North Africa and the Middle East.
The Bahraini government suppressed last year’s unrest with the help of troops from other GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries. Many of the Opposition supporters as well as rights activists detained in the crackdown have since been sentenced to lengthy prison terms.
Nevertheless, the tiny island nation continues to witness frequent protests staged by the Opposition and the Shiite majority, who have long been complaining about discrimination in housing and government jobs. They have been demanding greater political rights and want the Sunni monarchy to hand over most of its powers to an elected Parliament.
Political turmoil in Bahrain has been of particular concern to the United States since the strategically located island in the Persian Gulf is home to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet. The US also fears that the Gulf Kingdom with its Shiite-majority population could come under Iranian influence.
by RTT Staff Writer
For comments and feedback: editorial@rttnews.com