Answering to a question Posner termed the dialogue as a critical moment and pressed upon all the parties to engage in a conclusive dialogue.
“Above all, we continue to call on all parties in Bahrain to help each other move toward a comprehensive political dialogue that includes the diverse views of Bahraini society in a genuine negotiation. Progress toward such a dialogue has slowed, but dialogue has never been more urgent, as polarization in Bahrain society increases and the social fabric becomes more frayed. It will take courage and leadership on all sides to bring Bahrainis of all backgrounds and views to the table. We believe dialogue is needed on two tracks. First, the government should continue to work with opposition political societies on negotiation of the political future of the country. Secondly, there is a need for dialogue on issues of practical importance to all Bahrainis that enhances the sense of all people in Bahrain that they have a stake in the country’s future. We call on the government and others in the society to seek creative and inclusive approaches to dialogue and negotiation. This process will naturally take time. As Bahrain’s friend and partner, the United States of America stands ready to support you.”
The US official urged the police to not to use excessive force against the peaceful protestors and said that US reject the violence on the part of protestors who target police with Molotov cocktails and weapons. “The violent attacks on security forces are just not acceptable,” he said.
“While the street violence has diminished to some degree, we continue to urge protestors to reject the use of Molotov cocktails and other violent attacks on police. We also urge the police to refrain from the use of excessive force. It is noteworthy that the government has engaged with the ILO in reinstating workers and is compensating the victims of last year’s unrest. These measures signal a commitment to addressing some of the underlying causes of the unrest which is crucial to building trust in Bahrain,” he added.