Almarzooq to the Participants in Manama Dialogue: “It’s Time to Support Democratic Change in Bahrain”

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) Speaking to a mass rally today, Khalil Almarzooq, the Political Assistant to Al Wefaq Secretary-General emphasised that the opposition powers in Bahrain are very much interested in regional security, adding, “its one of our priorities, as we get affected by regional conflicts and tension. We don’t want that. We want to contribute also to regional stability and security.”He said that “those states that have stability internally are those that are strong and have influence regionally”. Adding, “real internal security is coming only from the satisfaction of the people and acceptance… this cannot be attained by repression, exclusion, not even poor performance.”“This can only be achieved by respecting people’s rights, engaging them in the internal affairs and decision making. It can only be achieved by an inclusive political system”, he emphasised in his speech on behalf of the opposition powers in Bahrain during today’s massive gathering in Saar area, west of Manama.Almarzooq, also, underlined that “the people have changed. They are fed-up of police state, and lack of freedom. They are seeking for their dignity, freedom, and future to be secured”.“You, the international community, are also responsible for the regime’s rejection and manoeuvring. Doing business as usual with the regime while you see its violations, using soft diplomacy, magnifying fake steps, failed, private talks failed. You have to be more assertive”.“We want you to move from the regime’s agenda, to a democracy and reform agenda”, he said during his speech addressed his speech to the participants of the Manama Dialogue taking place in Bahrain at the moment.“The Opposition wants to move Bahrain from exclusion to inclusion, building the Rule of Law, and protecting universal rights, for all. A model that every element in the international community shall support and has a duty to enforce”, Almarzooq said.He welcomed the international nuclear agreement with Iran, saying, “it is an historic opportunity. We hope the Iranian and 5+1 deal succeeds and results quickly in better relations and no more tensions, no conflicts, no more wars.”“We hope that this ends up with changing the theme of the relationships from tensions, cynicism, and conflicts, to cooperation, partnerships and joint ventures,” Almarzooq added in his speech of today, 6th of December 2013.He said “Bahrain will be strong as a state when we integrate all its people in power, decision, and wealth… this is inclusion, this is democracy.”Almarzooq described the people of Bahrain as the “strategic asset” in which all investments must serve to the future of the nation. “If the international community put its hands with our hands and convince the regime to get into an inclusive political process, we can move this country out of the mess, we can make a success story, we can create something that everyone will be proud of”.Almarzooq expressed his grave sadness for the loss of the South African leader Nelson Mandela, describing him as “a man who created important history, not for his community or his country but for the whole world.”“Mandela died as a body but he is alive as knowledge, spirit, and symbol,” he said./149