Manama, March 08: Bahrain’s Crown Prince Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa has expressed confidence in the chances of Bahrain reaching a political settlement as the kingdom moves closer to the formal commencement of a national dialogue.
In his first interview on national television since he interrupted a TV show on February 18 and called for calm, the Crown Prince struck a solemn, but optimistic tone.
The interview came after two weeks of discussions with political societies, community leaders and leaders and representatives of GCC nations and key allies.
The Crown Prince said protests would be allowed to continue but must remain peaceful.
“These rallies must not infringe upon the freedoms of other people. This is a basic principle. I urge all parties not to escalate matters or to slide into sensationalism. Some people want this to happen, so we have to be fully committed and to speak out bravely against it,” Shaikh Salman said.
“I hope that everyone will be brave, patient and optimistic and motivated to engage actively in the dialogue,” he told state television, according to a summary of the interview.
“No party should define the scope or purpose of the dialogue before we even start. It is important, very important, that we talk about these issues. We have no problem with talking about these issues and discussing them in depth,” he said.
“Around 70 to 80 per cent of the demands are shared by all the people. Everybody wants better services. Everybody wants dignity. Everybody wants to be heard. Everybody wants accountability,” he added.
In response to a question regarding a list of demands put forward by some political societies, he made it clear
that no one party or grouping should dictate the terms of the national dialogue.
The Crown Prince said the dialogue would bring real change in Bahrain. He said: “I can assure you that Bahrain will not go back to its former state because the one thing that is certain in life is change.”
Regarding the issue of the continuing protests, the Crown Prince expressed his continuing support for the right to freedom of assembly and the right for people to live their lives free of obstruction as well as warning against those who wished to sow sectarian violence.
He said: “Everyday I seek to further the rights of Bahrainis to public assembly or peaceful rallies. This is enshrined in the Constitution and we must support it.”
–Agencies–