AhlulBayt News Agency

source : al Wefaq
Wednesday

6 February 2013

7:50:00 AM
388368

Bahrain opposition parties' statement on their meeting with the Minister of Justice

The national opposition parties' delegation has met with the Minister of Justice, Sheikh Khalid bin Ali AlKhalifa, on Monday morning.

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) -  The meeting comes after the opposition parties presented a letter last week to the minister requesting clarifications on their vision for a serious dialogue that they had put forward in a letter to the Justice minister late January.

In the meeting, the opposition's delegation expressed its seriousness to engage in a serious dialogue and presented a detailed explanation for its viewpoint regarding the importance of a serious and fruitful dialogue that can bring positive outcomes which can help to exit the political and social tension the country has been going through for nearly two years. 
 
Proceeding from its keenness to arrange for the suitable conditions to move forward in a serious and fruitful dialogue, the opposition parties delegation requested clarifications from the Minister on several issues and which they still find vague and unclear. These issues included the nature of the dialogue and its mechanism, partakers, the fair representation of opposition parties, agendas, expected timeline and the government's participation and management of the dialogue, in addition to the desired outcomes and a clear identification of the party which will be responsible for the execution of the dialogue's outcomes as well as any provided guaranties by the authority.

The opposition parties stressed that it is crucial for the government's representative in the dialogue to be a main participant which has the authority to make decisions in order to prevent any political dodging or delays, as the opposition has anxieties given the nature of the previous 'National Consensus Dialogue' held back in July 2011, and which the opposition sees as big failure because of the issues discussed and the size of participants and the type of consensus mechanism, which all put aside the core purpose of the dialogue.            

During its meeting with the Justice Minister, the opposition expressed its desire to be provided with clear and significant information preceding the start of the dialogue to put things clear and overcome fears of the prospective dialogue that the opposition still finds vague and more likely to fail. Bahrain and its people need to be ensured that the dialogue will lead to serious negotiation on all political problems included in the opposition's letter to the Justice Minister.

The opposition parties, once again, ensure their seriousness and keenness to engage in a serious dialogue, however, stress that the government must provide answers for the opposition's legitimate questions put forward in the meeting.

The opposition parties will present another letter to the Justice Minister on Tuesday 6th morning inquiring answers for the anxieties the people and the opposition carry regarding the vague dialogue in order to reach an understanding that can lead to desired outcomes from the dialogue.

 
The opposition parties:
Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society
National Democratic Gathering SocietyNational Democratic Action Society
Unitary National Democratic Assemblage
Ekhaa National Society
Democratic Progressive Tribune

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