William Hague, Dr John Chipman and the Crown Prince of Bahrain, Prince Salman Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa
focused on the potential of the already existing spillover on
there can be no true security.’ He rejected the sectarian and
Syria’s immediate neighbours to balloon and result in an
political polarisation that poisoned the Kingdom’s politics:
even greater destabilising impact.
‘I am not a prince of Sunni Bahrain; I am not a prince of
The concern over Iran’s nuclear programme and its suspected ambitions among participants and the related
Shia Bahrain. I am a prince of the Kingdom of Bahrain and all mean a great deal to me personally.’
potential for conflict remained acute. The re-election of US
He called for direct talks: ‘I soon hope to see a meet-
President Barack Obama and positive signals from Iran
ing between all sides – and I call for a meeting between all
suggested that the prospects for war had been reduced
sides – as I believe that only through face-to-face contact
and that a window remained opened for diplomatic
will any real progress be made.’ The Crown Prince’s call
engagement. Given the failed diplomatic attempts of 2012,
for dialogue was welcomed by Bahrain’s main opposition
however, a sober sense of what can be achieved hovered.
parties, including Al-Wefaq.
The role of the United States in regional security was
Prince Salman offered thanks to Saudi Arabia and the
also hotly debated. A sense that the US, motivated by the
United Arab Emirates, which had sent troops to ensure
pivot to Asia, domestic constraints and general fatigue
security in the face of any possible aggressor, and to people
with the Middle East, was reducing its commitment to Gulf
who had supported his efforts to promote dialogue with
security was palpable among regional participants. US
the political opposition. He praised the UK which, he said,
speakers strongly rejected this notion, although differences
had stood ‘head and shoulders’ above others, engaging
over the current US approach to Syria indicated a tense
with all stakeholders.
debate in Washington over the right degree and form of involvement in the Middle East.
‘There is more work that we need to do,’ the Crown Prince said. Reform and capacity-building were necessary for the judiciary, so as to create a legal system that was fair,
Opening Dinner
just and inclusive. Laws that went against the protections
In his address to the opening dinner, the Crown Prince
of the constitution needed to be changed. Selective applica-
directly addressed the problems faced by his country since
tion of the law must stop.
the Arab uprisings of 2011. During the protests in Bahrain,
Addressing the opposition, Prince Salman said lead-
the country had been divided, he said, and many wounds
ers and ayatollahs must condemn violence. He added
were still to be healed. He stressed the importance of
that the silent majority, including people who lived in
dialogue to overcome Bahrain’s traumatic divide. ‘Security
mixed Sunni/Shia communities, felt insecure and their
is not the only guarantor of stability,’ he said. ‘Without
voices unheard. Responsible leadership was needed. The
justice there can be no freedom, and without freedom
majority of people wanted a solution that put the events The Manama Dialogue 2012 | 81