During the Wednesday’s session of the National Consensus Dialogue witnessed the presentation of a document, submitted by the coalition of societies, proposing mechanisms for the regulation and facilitation of the Dialogue process.
The six societies highlighted the importance of discussing a document, presented by the group in a previous session that includes suggestions pertaining to the Dialogue environment. Following on from this, the sessions’ moderators suggested regulations for the management of the sessions. After deliberation and an exchange of views by the participants, a number of terms were decided upon to regulate the management of the Dialogue.
The Spokesperson for the National Consensus Dialogue, Isa Abdulrahman, said that all participants agreed on terms in direct relation to; the talking period of each participant, contents of the minutes of the sessions’ results, how to adjourn the meeting for consultation, the number of times each participant should be permitted to discuss a particular topic, not returning to discuss points that have already reached consensus, points that do not reach consensus being rescheduled for the next session and the statements of the spokesperson are based on the approved minutes of the session.
AbdulRahman said that all participants agreed on the following terms: A participant should be permitted to deliberate a point for no more than five minutes at a time; The minutes will be drafted outlining discussions and points that have reached or not reached consensus; the draft copies will be signed and received by representatives of all sides; Any participant may propose to adjourn a session for deliberation. The time allowed for adjournment will be decided upon by all participants at the point of its proposal; A participant may be given the opportunity to speak for a second time on a particular point only when all other participants have completed their deliberations on the same point; Points to reach consensus may not be re-discussed; Points that are not finalized will be rescheduled for discussion at the next session; Statements of the spokesperson are based on the approved minutes of the session; The moderators of the sessions will prepare draft agendas of the Dialogue from documents presented by all participants to be discussed at the next session and a discussion took place regarding the media statements of the spokesperson on behalf of the Dialogue. A group of participants noted that there are no observations in regard to media statements of previous sessions; the deliberation focused only on the regulation of the issuing of media statements. Another group pointed out that the statements of the spokesperson were objective and positively contributed to the Dialogue process. The participants agreed that the statements of the spokesperson should be based on the approved minutes of the session.
The Spokesperson said that the agreements made at the Fifth session affirmed the positive progress of the Dialogue. He noted that this progress reflects the level of seriousness of all participants to complete the National Consensus Dialogue in the political theme, to reach further consensuses with the aim of achieving the supreme interests of the nation and political gains for a better future for all.
The participants then discussed a proposal to set the agenda of the Dialogue. Following an exchange of opinions, it was agreed that the sessions’ moderators should produce an initial draft of the agenda, taken from documents presented by all the participants, to be discussed in the next session.
It was also agreed that the next session will be held on Wednesday, 6th March 2013.
The participants include from the Government Shaikh. Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs; Dr. Majid bin Ali Al Noaimi Minister of Education and Essam bin Abdulla Khalaf Minister of Works.
Independents from the Legislative Authority include MP Ahmed Al Saati; MP Latifa Al Gaoud; MP AbdulHakeem Al Shimiri; MP Sawsan Taqawi; Shura Member Khalid Al Masqati; Shura Member Jameela Salman and Shura Member AbdulAziz Abul.
Ten Societies Coalition include Ahmad Juma; Adnan Bader; AbdulRahman AbdulSalam; Abdulla Al Huwaihi; AbdulRahman Al Baker; Ahmad Al BinAli; Abdulla Bu Ghamar and Khalid Al Qattan.
The members of six societies were Dr. Muneera Fakhro; Mohammed Hajji Al-Shehabi; Hafedh Ali; Sayed Jameel Khadim; Abdulnabi Salman; Dr. Mariam Al-Shitti; Mahmood Al-Qassab and Majeed Milad. The moderators were Khalid Ajaji and Dr. Abdulla Taleb.