The National Dialogue, which was called for by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, will kick off on July 2nd, 2011 (Saturday) with the participation of more than 300 figures, representing all segments of the Bahraini community.
Participants were named by political parties and civil society institutions as well as public figures. Invitees will discuss about 181 issues, presented for discussion to spur and support the developmental and reform progress in the country, achieve aspirations of Bahrainis, overcome challenges to speed action and achievements, as set by the reform scheme.
Many local and international organisations are following up the national dialogue in Bahrain, due to its importance within the regional developments.
The interest is also attributed to the dialogue itself, which is a civilized means to achieve development, modernisation and coexistence for a prosperous future of the homeland and the citizens.
Parliament Speaker and Chairman of the Bahrain National Dialogue Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Dhahrani will open the dialogue with a speech, which will be followed by a briefing on the concept of accord and principles of dialogue, after that modus operandi of Interlocutors and executive mechanism of the dialogue would be presented.
A wide range of preparations preceded the opening ceremony to pave the way for successful dialogue sessions, taking into consideration the privacy of Interlocutors, with the respective halls equipped for this issue accommodating up to 80 persons. A dedicated media centre was set up to provide media coverage and cooperate with the media, including reporters, local and international media. A special website for the national dialogue as recently launched in addition to pages on social networking websites.
News and latest developments would be provided in four languages, including Arabic, English, German and French to help international media keep close follow up on the national dialogue.
Al Dhahrani valued His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s speech, which included the directives and vision that boosts the state of law and its institutions. The speech, he said, highlights the Kingdom’s bright image, underlines reform and democracy as a continuous process and enhances participation in the decision-making process through constitutional and parliamentary institutions and comprehensive national dialogue.
Al Dhahrani stressed that the national dialogue presidency will exert relentless efforts to contribute to presenting a national accord vision for the present and future of the nation in cooperation with all participants in the dialogue and in implementation of the royal letter of designation. He also voiced hope for the dialogue to record a new chapter of in Bahrain’s history that overcomes challenges and benefits from lessons as well as being a successful chapter in the nation’s history supported by desire to give, as seen by His Majesty the King.
On June 1st 2011, His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa appointed Parliament’s Speaker Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Dhahrani to chair the National Dialogue. The Chairman of the National Dialogue has issued around 300 invitations for societies and individuals to participate in the dialogue which will start on July 2nd, 2011.
The dialogue aims at bringing together the various segments of the Bahraini society to present people’s views and demands for further reform in the country without any preconditions and with the consensus of all participants. The Dialogue is expected to revolve around four main topics that include political, economic, social, and rights issues.