Minister hails Bahrain's achievements, solid Saudi ties

Manama, Mar. 17 (BNA): Minister of Information Affairs and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Bahrain Institute for Political Development (BIPA), Ali bin Mohammed Al-Romaihi, has lauded the depth of the fraternal deep-rooted Bahraini-Saudi relations in all fields and at all levels under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. He stressed that the two kingdoms have set a model for GCC, Arab and Islamic relations, as well as political and economic partnership, given their bonds of kinship, shared religion, language and culture and common destiny. In an interview with the "Al-Majalla" magazine published recently, the minister stressed the importance of strengthening the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) media cooperation, exchanging information and expertise and coordinating at international gathering. He underscored the pivotal role played by the media, being a partner in protecting the national security of GCC countries, in preserving GCC cultural identity, consolidating its successful march towards development and political and economic complementarity as the best means to achieve the ultimate goal of the 36-year old bloc of establishing the Gulf Union which is a strategic necessity required by the current challenges and developments. Tackling domestic issues, the Information Minister highlighted the unprecedented democratic, development and civilisational achievements attained by the kingdom since the approval of the National Action Charter by a sweeping majority of 98.4 percent of votes 16 years ago, as part of the country’s transformation into a constitutional monarchy. Since then, Bahrain has become a role model for political and democratic reform and economic freedom, as well as an example to be emulated in religious and sectarian tolerance, he said. He highlighted the consolidation of social participation in political and public affairs through the Council of Representatives and the Shura Council, the strengthening of the independence of the Judiciary, the establishment of 716 NGOs and 20 political societies, respect for human rights and dignity within a framework of equality and fairness and promotion of the press and media freedoms. The National Action Charter was the first step within the pioneering Reform Project spearheaded by HM King Hamad towards transforming the kingdom into a civil and advanced constitutional monarchy, consolidating Bahrain’s status as a role model for political and democratic reform, religious and sectarian tolerance, intellectual and cultural pluralism, supporting and empowering women, promoting the country’s cultural identity and wise foreign policy. Referring to Bahrain’s outstanding performance in information and communication technology (ICT) and economy, the minister said that the Measuring the Information Society Report for 2016, a global survey issued by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), showed that Bahrain had topped all Arab countries for the 5th consecutive year, and ranked 29th in the world and on the ICT Development Index (IDI). The minister also said that Bahrain had ranked first at the Arab level and 18th at the global level, according to the Heritage Foundation Index of Economic Freedom 2016, and was the fourth at the Arab level and 45th in the world in the Human Development Index of the report issued by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) for 2015. Al-Romaihi explained that the kingdom had shined in international indices thanks to its advanced and integrated modern infrastructure. The minister added that Bahrain has attained unprecedented democratic and human rights achievements through the separation and of constitutional branches and their cooperation, the consolidation of social participation in political and public affairs through the bicameral National Assembly, women’s ability to exercise their full political rights, the strengthening of the independence and fairness of the Judiciary in achieving justice and ensuring the rule of the law, the establishment of the Constitutional Court, the inauguration of the National Audit Office, guaranteeing the right to establish NGOs and trade unions in the presence of 617 NGOs, including 20 women association and 20 political societies. He highlighted the major strides made by the kingdom in respecting human rights and dignity in accordance with the Constitution and the National Action Charter, noting that all political, civil, cultural and social rights, equal opportunities and equality are guaranteed for the citizens without discrimination. He also affirmed that religious freedom and the freedom to practise religious rituals and hold religious events are guaranteed for the followers of all religions and beliefs without any restrictions of any kind, in addition to the existence of houses of worship for all, which, he said, reflects Bahrain’s commitment to the provisions of more than 24 conventions which it had ratified, as well as to the voluntary pledges within the UN Human Rights Council. Referring to media, Al-Romaihi asserted that the Bahrain media is flourishing thanks to freedom and progress achieved during HM the King’s prosperous era thanks to the expansion of the scope of freedom of expression, the right to have access to information and disseminate news and ideas within respect for cultural and intellectual pluralism, national legislation and laws and the international conventions and covenants ratified by the kingdom, and without prejudice to national unity, security and the freedom and reputation of others. Highlighting Bahrain’s leading status in ICT, Al-Romaihi said tha the Bahraini media has made quantum leaps, noting that today there are seven daily newspapers, 15 weekly newspapers and magazines, 38 monthly magazines, as well as nine websites for newspapers and magazines. Regarding audio-visual media, he said that there are 15 radio stations and five HD TV channels, noting that the new TV facilities have been inaugurated recently in the presence of His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa. He stressed unwavering to develop the Bahraini media professionally, technically and in terms of legislation in accordance with an ambitious strategic plan that copes with the progress boom witnessed by the kingdom in various fields, as well as the latest technological developments. He also voiced keenness to encourage investment in the media sector in partnership with the private sector, improve professionalism, promote responsible media freedoms in accordance with professional and ethical norms and regulations and enhance partnership with GCC and Arab media outlets to promote ethical and effective media that disseminate lofty human values on the bases of impartiality, competitiveness and sustainability, rejects hate and division calls, and safeguards the Nation’s accomplishments and cultural and civilisational identity. Among the ambitious projects, the minister said, are the National Communication Centre (NCC), established as per a royal decree to unify the official media discourse and consolidate communication with local and external media, and the draft Press and Electronic Media Law which was submitted to the Cabinet. The Information Affairs Minister stressed has set the example in its robust resolve to carry on the political reform and economic and social development through strengthening the prerogatives of the Legislature, as stipulated in the constitutional amendments of 2012, holding the fourth straight parliamentary elections in 2014 with the participation of 52.6 of votes from various social segments, the activation of the role of the National Institution for Human Rights, the Office of the Ombudsman at the Interior Ministry, the Special Investigation Unit at the Public Prosecution and the Prisoners and Detainees Rights Commission (PDRC), among others. He stressed that Bahrain had succeeded in attaining its milestone achievements despite the attempts by terrorist organisations to impede the democratic process through acts of violence and sabotage, attacking public and private property, misleading youth, disseminating fallacies via suspicious foreign media outlets and websites with well-known sectarian tendencies. Al-Romaihi emphasised Bahrain’s strong resolve to carry on its national efforts to eliminate the powers of evil and apply the law on terrorists and those who incite and fund them in accordance with human rights standards out of its belief that reinforcing security and stability is essential for optimising the continuous democratic, development and reform achievements within the state of law and institutions. In this regard, he said that the security authorities had dismantled many espionage and terrorism cells, foiled criminal plots, tracked down inciters, and arrested many perpetrators whose relations with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and the Hizbullah terrorist organisation have been proved by security investigation and court verdicts. Responding to a question about the misleading media campaigns targeting the kingdom, the minister said that those campaigns are driven by sectarian and political motives and aim to spark sedition, impede the democratic and development march in the kingdom and distort its achievements. He said that Bahrain responds to the smear campaigns according to scientific programmes that go beyond reactions, including providing the public opinion with information and facts through media outlets and social media networks, monitoring what is published about Bahrain using cutting-edge technology, debunking false information and harmful or biased reports through providing evidence and press releases containing facts, and taking legal and official measures against channels that fuel sedition and spread rumours and fallacies.