In the continuation of the National Consensus Dialogue in the political theme, a meeting of a working group was held on Sunday. The decision to form a working group was made at the previous session, with the aim of setting the agenda for review by all participants at the next full session to be held on Wednesday, 13thMarch.
The meeting started with classification of the contents of the agenda. It discussed mechanisms for the running of the sessions and implementations of outcomes that reach consensus, in addition to deciding the timetable after approving the final draft of the agenda.
The Spokesperson for the National Consensus Dialogue, Isa AbdulRahman, said that the working group launched the meeting by reviewing a document of the key points presented by all participants in the Dialogue. After deliberation, it was decided that the first point in the draft of the agenda will focus on ‘mechanisms for the running of the sessions’. He affirmed that the working group decided upon the same mechanisms for the running of the sessions as agreed previously, on 27thFebruary, at the fifth session.
Isa AbdulRahman added that the working group suggested the second point should be ‘mechanisms to implement outcomes that reach consensus’. He highlighted that this point will be inclusive of matters concerning supervision of the implementation of the outcomes within a time period, implementation of guarantees and any further terms relating to implementation mechanisms.
The Spokesperson said that the next session, to be held on Wednesday, 13th March, will witness the presentation of the draft of the agenda for review and decision-making by all participants.
Isa AbdulRahman said that this meeting and its outcomes affirmed the rights of all participants to set the Dialogue’s agenda. He reiterated that the National Dialogue has consensus as its only limitation, to overcome challenges and build bridges of trust between all for the best of the Nation and its citizens.
He added that the participants agreed to include the mechanisms of the implementation of outcomes that reach consensus on the agenda of Wednesday’s session includes formation of an implementation team; public referendum; implementation guarantees; set a period for the implementation; constitutional means and constitutional institutions.
The participants agreed to decide the timetable after finalizing the agenda; while the meeting also witnessed contradicting views around the possibility of including some points that had reached consensus previously.
Isa AbdulRahman confirmed that the working group comprises two representatives from each group participating in the Dialogue.
Consensuses reached on 27th February relating to regulations of the sessions includes 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 and 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.