bahrain

These matters are admittedly difficult to treat fairly, but the bias of the human rights organisations is
hard to deny. Unfortunately much of the media accept their views unquestioningly. The public
picture presented is thus one‐sided.
What is perhaps more important is that media presentations imply that the UK’s relations with
Bahrain should be governed by human rights considerations, and furthermore that UK criticisms of
Bahraini performance should be loudly stated. While this may have political resonance, it cannot be
correct. The UK’s relationship with Bahrain is multi‐faceted, including trade, investment, culture, and
above all the strategic role of Bahrain as a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council in a sensitive
part of the world. The UK’s policies towards Bahrain, and the government’s public presentation of
them, have to balance all these considerations.
In the speech referred to above Mr Hague said that “Our starting point for engagement on human
rights with all countries will be based on what is practical, realistic and achievable”. Practicality and
realism will mean in most cases, and certainly with regard to friendly countries, that criticism should
not be loudly voiced from the roof‐tops: states, like individual human beings, tend to react adversely
to such criticism. The first step should be through normal diplomatic means to urge the governments
concerned to live up to obligations they have themselves undertaken. Aside from the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, Bahrain is a party to various UN Conventions, including the Convention
against torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Other steps include the provision of specialised expertise.
There is a place for public criticism, but it should be carefully judged. Dialogue should be the
watchword. Achievement on the substance, and damage to other aspects of our relationship, should
not be risked on the altar of giving satisfaction to single‐issue lobbies and the media.
12 November 2012
46