Manama: The intended dialogue in Bahrain should include all the segments of the society, a lawmaker has said.
“While we welcome initiatives to launch a national dialogue to reconcile between the government and political forces, we need to make sure that it includes all segments of the Bahraini society and that none is left out,” MP Ebtissam Hijris said.
Reports that the government and the opposition will be holding talks to reach a way out of the crisis that has hit the country since February 2011 have recently emerged n Bahrain.
However, no specific names, dates or targets have been specified, prompting speculations from several quarters with some lawmakers praising the benefits of a healing initiative.
“We have repeatedly insisted that the Bahraini character is very keen on communication, cooperation and constant dialogue. What we lived in Bahrain was an exception and the normal course of action now is to have initiatives from civil society organisations and political, social and religious forces to reconcile all parties and regain the normal way of life,” Ebtissam said in remarks on Sunday.
According to the lawmaker who was elected to the lower chamber in the autumn by-elections, genuine and keen interest by all parties taking part in the national dialogue will help identify obstacles, determine challenges to the democracy experiment and help ensure a successful exit of all problems.
“We need to focus on the future and to think with a deep sense of responsibility. We cannot be frozen in a selective mould and we must take into account the higher interests of the nation in order to cure it of all the wounds and pains,” she said. “There should be no pre-conditions that will hamper the possibilities of a dialogue and the opposition, for the sake of Bahrain, should not miss a great opportunity for the third time. Arrogance and obstinacy will not help, this time,” the MP said.
