Dubai: Bahraini political societies planning to meet foreign diplomats or government representatives must coordinate with the ministry of foreign affairs at least three working days before the scheduled meeting.
Under an amendment to a 2004 ministry of justice and Islamic affairs decision on communications between the local political societies and foreign political parties or organisations, all contacts between Bahraini political societies and diplomatic missions and consulates in Bahrain, or foreign organisations and government institutions or representatives of foreign governments must be in coordination with the foreign ministry.
The contacts are held in the presence of a representative from the foreign ministry or any other party the ministry selects, according to the amendment issued on Tuesday, Bahrain News Agency (BNA) reported.
The political societies should inform the ministry of justice and Islamic affairs on the coordination with the ministry of foreign affairs at least three working days before the day of the contact.
The new rules apply to the contacts that political societies have with foreign political organisations outside Bahrain, the ministerial decision said.
Several members of the parliament have often complained that political societies “coordinated very closely” with diplomats and foreign organisations.
