His Majesty the King stands equidistant from all parties engaged in the National Consensus Dialogue, Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowment Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al-Khalifa said.
The minister was speaking in a press conference following the conclusion of the first meeting of the work team assigned to draw up the draft agenda.
He pointed out that all sides had agreed to submit the final outcome of the dialogue sessions to HM the King.
“The negative language does not serve the national consensus dialogue”, the minister said, adding that the government has been approved already as an essential party.
He rejected any backtracking on the items which have already been discussed and approved in previous sessions, describing it unacceptable to discuss the points anew.
“It is not possible to engage in a dialogue with a part which commits or supports violence”, he said, pointing out that the national consensus dialogue is based on the rule of the law.
He urged any party which can stop violence or issue a religious ruling (fatwa) banning acts of violence to exercise its role in this regard.
He expressed the hope that all participants would approach the national dialogue positively, warning that any party which tries to impede the process would be the loser.
“We can’t exploit the agenda to try to impose pre-set conditions on the table of dialogue which may impede any tangible progress”, he said, reiterating commitment to an “objective and consensual agenda”.