Sameera Rajab, who is also State Minister for Information Affairs, told a media briefing on Sunday at her office in Gudaibiya Palace that the factual situation in Bahrain was far better and the US report lacks credibility and impartiality by presenting distorted facts by focussing on negativity alone.
She urged the US State Department officials to take into account the overall situation of the Kingdom of Bahrain as a whole and not focussing on one particular segment by avoiding to portray things out of context.
To another question, the Minister said that it was true that the unfolding events affect the day to day working and development activity of the Government. However, she maintained, that in 2013 Bahrain has achieved many strides, for example, achieving development targets. “We do witness some challenges in 2013 but overall year performance was good,” she added.
“Bahrain enjoys an advanced status in the human rights field and is progressing steadily in this regard,” she said.
She dismissed the report as biased and lacking credibility and value for it did not reflect the reality in Bahrain objectively.
Concerning the periodic report submitted to the cabinet today on the government’s implementation of the recommendations of Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI), the minister revealed that 80% of the recommendations have been honoured with 19 fully carried out and the remaining six ones being implemented.
She praised the government’s active and robust work plan for 2013 which was able to carry out 72% of the overall public projects despite the security incidents.
She pointed out an increase in the achievement rate in 2014 compared to 2013 when a delay in approving the state budget by the legislative power posed an impediment to the projects.
She also confirmed an initiative to appoint media attaches at Bahrain’s embassies abroad, saying that more details will be disclosed in the future.
She added the aim is not only to explain the real situation in Bahrain but also to promote cultural and media exchange.
She stressed collective responsibility to thwart the criminal plot aimed at marring Bahrain’s image through fabricated news.
She also asserted the government’s keenness to provide citizens with top quality medical services, pointing out that setting up the Supreme Committee for Medical Treatment Abroad, which was discussed by the cabinet today, will be of great benefit.
She also deplored the regrettable fire which claimed the lives of three Asians recently in Manama, stressing that Bahrain has legislations which protect the workers and urging compliance with the laws and regulations.