(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Below is a translated version of the opposition parties' vision of a serious dialogue as expressed in the letter:
1. Dialogue and negotiation
The opposition parties understand that the dialogue is negotiations between different parties in order to reach a final agreement and permanent settlement which achieve interests of all,without impairing the right of any citizen or faction.
2. The authority is an essential party in negotiation
Statements of government officials say the authority is not going to be presented in the dialogue, imprinting that it is more of a social dialogue between different parties in the Bahraini community, and that the authority will act as an observer to separate two conflicting parties as claimed. However, this is based on a wrong interpretation of the crisis, as the popular demands are related to political power-sharing. This means that the authority is an essential party in the crisis. The dialogue cannot be serious if the opposition parties are requestedto demand powersfrom other parties of the community when these powers are in the hands of the Bahraini regime,and so the opposition parties see that in order for negotiations to be successful, the authority must be an essential party in the dialogue.
3. Negotiation outcomes are decisions and constitutional drafts and not recommendations
The opposition parties understand that a serious dialogue must bring a final agreement which is to be acknowledged by popular recognition. On the contrary, a dialogue that ends with no more than wishes and recommendations cannot be considered serious. The opposition parties see that the dialogue must be concluded with constitutional drafts for popular recognition.
4. Agendas of negotiations
The opposition parties believe that the vital issues that must be included in negotiations –as included in the crown prince's 7-principles initiative, the Manama Document and the National Democratic Vision- to reach a final agreement are as follows:
§ The founding of an elected executive authority which expresses the popular will
§ Defining the authorities of the legislative authority
§ Fair electoral system
§ Independence of the judicial authority
§ The integrationof all in the security services
§ Political naturalization
§ Discrimination
§ Corruption
§ Transitional justice
§ The authority must live up to the pledges it has made to the international community by implementing recommendation of both the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) report and the UN Human Rights Council by releasing all prisoners of conscience in Bahrain, allowing fundamental freedoms, rationalizing government and quasi-government media.
5. Negotiation mechanism
The opposition parties see that in order for the dialogue to succeed, the authority needs to meet with each party to discuss its vision of required changes as a prelude to the joint sessions between all parties.
The dialogue's administration must enjoy impartiality and integrity.
The opposition parties welcome the negotiations, however, will not take part representing a certain sect faction but rather the aspirations of the people of Bahrain, and the parties seek to realize gains to all citizens.
6. Fair representation of all parties
The participant's representation in the negotiations must be fair; the opposition on one side, and the authority on the other.
7. Negotiation timeline
In order for the negotiations to succeed, the opposition parties see that defining a timeline to the start and end of negotiations is crucial for all parties to be reassured of the necessary need to move towards stability.
8. Execution mechanism of final agreement
The opposition parties consider both the timeline and mechanism of the final agreement execution details which cannot be separated from the final agreement. The execution must be a joint process between parties of agreement, and should not be assigned to the authority which is the main party behind the crisis as the international community sees.
9. Guaranties of execution
Honesty, transparency and rebuilding confidence between all parties are the bases of a successful dialogue.
Taking into consideration what has been confirmed by the BICI report and the UN Human Rights Council delegation to Bahrain in December 2011, in addition to the absence of confidence, the opposition parties believe that there is a need to discuss key impartial guaranties which can ensure the execution of agreement by each party in order to avoid possible future political crises that may erupt as a result of a poor execution of the agreement or an abandoning of the agreement by any party.
The opposition parties:
Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society
National Democratic Gathering Society
National Democratic Action Society
Unitary National Democratic Assemblage
Ekhaa National Society
Democratic Progressive Tribune
28th January 2013
/129
1. Dialogue and negotiation
The opposition parties understand that the dialogue is negotiations between different parties in order to reach a final agreement and permanent settlement which achieve interests of all,without impairing the right of any citizen or faction.
2. The authority is an essential party in negotiation
Statements of government officials say the authority is not going to be presented in the dialogue, imprinting that it is more of a social dialogue between different parties in the Bahraini community, and that the authority will act as an observer to separate two conflicting parties as claimed. However, this is based on a wrong interpretation of the crisis, as the popular demands are related to political power-sharing. This means that the authority is an essential party in the crisis. The dialogue cannot be serious if the opposition parties are requestedto demand powersfrom other parties of the community when these powers are in the hands of the Bahraini regime,and so the opposition parties see that in order for negotiations to be successful, the authority must be an essential party in the dialogue.
3. Negotiation outcomes are decisions and constitutional drafts and not recommendations
The opposition parties understand that a serious dialogue must bring a final agreement which is to be acknowledged by popular recognition. On the contrary, a dialogue that ends with no more than wishes and recommendations cannot be considered serious. The opposition parties see that the dialogue must be concluded with constitutional drafts for popular recognition.
4. Agendas of negotiations
The opposition parties believe that the vital issues that must be included in negotiations –as included in the crown prince's 7-principles initiative, the Manama Document and the National Democratic Vision- to reach a final agreement are as follows:
§ The founding of an elected executive authority which expresses the popular will
§ Defining the authorities of the legislative authority
§ Fair electoral system
§ Independence of the judicial authority
§ The integrationof all in the security services
§ Political naturalization
§ Discrimination
§ Corruption
§ Transitional justice
§ The authority must live up to the pledges it has made to the international community by implementing recommendation of both the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) report and the UN Human Rights Council by releasing all prisoners of conscience in Bahrain, allowing fundamental freedoms, rationalizing government and quasi-government media.
5. Negotiation mechanism
The opposition parties see that in order for the dialogue to succeed, the authority needs to meet with each party to discuss its vision of required changes as a prelude to the joint sessions between all parties.
The dialogue's administration must enjoy impartiality and integrity.
The opposition parties welcome the negotiations, however, will not take part representing a certain sect faction but rather the aspirations of the people of Bahrain, and the parties seek to realize gains to all citizens.
6. Fair representation of all parties
The participant's representation in the negotiations must be fair; the opposition on one side, and the authority on the other.
7. Negotiation timeline
In order for the negotiations to succeed, the opposition parties see that defining a timeline to the start and end of negotiations is crucial for all parties to be reassured of the necessary need to move towards stability.
8. Execution mechanism of final agreement
The opposition parties consider both the timeline and mechanism of the final agreement execution details which cannot be separated from the final agreement. The execution must be a joint process between parties of agreement, and should not be assigned to the authority which is the main party behind the crisis as the international community sees.
9. Guaranties of execution
Honesty, transparency and rebuilding confidence between all parties are the bases of a successful dialogue.
Taking into consideration what has been confirmed by the BICI report and the UN Human Rights Council delegation to Bahrain in December 2011, in addition to the absence of confidence, the opposition parties believe that there is a need to discuss key impartial guaranties which can ensure the execution of agreement by each party in order to avoid possible future political crises that may erupt as a result of a poor execution of the agreement or an abandoning of the agreement by any party.
The opposition parties:
Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society
National Democratic Gathering Society
National Democratic Action Society
Unitary National Democratic Assemblage
Ekhaa National Society
Democratic Progressive Tribune
28th January 2013
/129