Ban Ki-moon supports national dialogue in Bahrain

Manama: Bahrain’s drive to start a national dialogue as a way of the worst crisis in its modern history got a boost from Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations Secretary-General., who has urged all parties to launch the talks on reform and reconciliation.

The national dialogue has created an opportunity for all sides to address political and constitutional reform and facilitate national reconciliation, Ban Ki-moon said, as he expressed concern at the apparent impasse in launching the talks a few weeks after King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa asked Crown Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa to initiate such a process.

“The Secretary-General calls on all parties in Bahrain to seize the moment and engage in a broad-based, peaceful and meaningful dialogue involving the political opposition and civil society in the interest of all Bahraini people,” his spokesperson said in a statement.

Ban Ki-moon reiterated the readiness of the United Nations to provide support to nationally-led efforts, if requested to do so.

“The Secretary-General also calls on all of Bahrain’s regional neighbours and the wider international community to support a dialogue process and an environment conducive for credible reforms in Bahrain,” the spokesperson said.

Several countries, including the US, the UK, France, China and Australia as well as the Gulf Cooperation Council have publicly supported the national dialogue.

Domestically, the National Unity Rally, an umbrella for more several Islamist societies and thousands of independent people, has repeatedly said that it was ready to engage in the dialogue. Some opposition societies said that they would sit around the dialogue table after specific conditions are met while three formations have rejected the option.

Crown Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa who launched the initiative three weeks has said that the national dialogue was the only solution out of the crisis.