Bahrain responds to UNHCHR, defends national record

Manama, Mar.11 (BNA): In response to what came in a statement delivered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Prince Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein at the UN Human Council’s 31st session in Geneva, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain affirmed that some of what came in his statement is unacceptable form of interference in the internal affairs of the kingdom in addition to being completely unrealistic. The Ministry added that some of has been said contradicts with the facts on the ground which testify that the Kingdom of Bahrain has establishment a model worth emulating in terms of respect and promotion of human rights and provision of those rights, through various mechanisms and frameworks, to all the citizens. "This is in addition to the Kingdom’s constant keenness to cooperate and interact with international organizations and agencies and to implement various initiatives and programs that pour into the protection and consolidation of human rights," it explained. It asserted that the freedom of opinion and freedom of expression are guaranteed and constitute an important pillar in of national boost in the Kingdom of Bahrain because they are based on a set of advanced legislations, laws and systems that are constantly developed within the framework of professional ethics and morals as well as the internationally adopted media conventions. Furthermore, the ministry stresses that the judiciary enjoys the highest degrees of independence, honesty and transparency and provides guarantees for justice, equity and equal opportunities as well as it preserves the rights of the citizens and their achievements that were stipulated by the law in order to protect the community from violence and terrorist acts. Thus, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on all to abide by objectivity and, neutrality and to conduct fact-finding in a meticulous and comprehensive manner, away from politicization of issues, so as to uphold the truth and guarantee credibility. On the other hand, Ambassador Yusuf Abdulkarim Bucheeri, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Nations in Geneva, gave the statement of the Kingdom of before the 31stsession of the UN Human Rights Council in which he stressed that the High Commissioner for Human Rights has made the remarks at the wrong time, ignoring the existing cooperation between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the UNHRC. He pointed to the agreement of understanding between the kingdom and the High Commissioner on a technical cooperation and capacity building program for this year, which was a positive initiative towards more cooperation and partnership in promoting human rights mechanisms, strengthening civil society, activating freedom of opinion and expression, and strengthening the national human rights institution’s work in accordance with the Paris principles. He pointed out that these statements with broad titles being repeated over and over and recycled inside out do not serve at all the tireless efforts so far exerted to promote human rights in the kingdom. He said that they imply that the High Commissioner for Human Rights Office should exert further effort to understand the reality of human rights in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the huge challenges it is facing by outsourcing information in a more accurate way from neutral, objective and non-politicized sources. Ambassador Yusuf Abdulkarim Bucheeri reiterated Bahrain's full commitment to all international conventions and laws on human rights, and its adherence to maintaining human rights and supporting everything that would respect these rights in order to ensure security and tranquility to all citizens, reiterating the Kingdom’s keenness to cooperate and interact with all international organizations and agencies to further protect and consolidate human rights. He stressed that the application of law on any individual could not be overlooked, regardless of the individual’s political affiliation or social activity as none is above the law, adding that it is also unacceptable to question the integrity and independence of the judiciary or comment on its provisions. He said that the spaces of internal dialogue between the various components of the Bahraini society and their discussion of national matters relating to their engagement in political life and its development shall remain a pure national affair which does not fall within the prerogatives of this forum to discuss.