Participants in Bahrain's new-look National Dialogue have expressed optimism after two days of meetings between the Royal Court and those taking part.

They have now been asked to come up with their visions for five key subjects before talks resume, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

Participants will now submit ideas on the authority of Bahrain's legislative, judicial and executive branches of government; electoral constituencies; and national security.

They must present their proposals to the Royal Court, which will first review their suggestions before bringing all groups together for talks, the report said.

"We have met all of those involved in the National Dialogue and asked them to present their visions on the five topics as soon as they can, to allow us to bring their visions in line and allow work to start on a schedule," said a Royal Court statement yesterday.

The talks were indefinitely suspended on January 8, but are now back on track after participants last week met His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, based on directives from His Majesty King Hamad.

The talks collapsed after Sunni participants walked out on the process, four months after the predominantly Shi'ite opposition began boycotting the initiative.

National Unity Gathering secretary-general Abdulla Al Huwaihi, whose organisation is among Sunni groups represented in the National Dialogue, said it could be two weeks before proposals are submitted.

"Views can be submitted on paper and responded to on paper, but we wanted to know that the Royal Court would not favour the other side (the political opposition) over us and would give us a fair say," he told the GDN.

"We have been presented with the necessary guarantees and it will take us two weeks to draw up a full vision on the five main topics, including ideas on corruption, social security and favouritism.

"Our paper will also include suggested mechanisms involved with each point and we are ready to listen to others who may have better ideas on how consensus could be reached."

Meanwhile, opposition representatives taking part in the dialogue described their meeting with the Royal Court as "honest and transparent".

"We are looking to reach a productive national consensus that helps resolve the political deadlock in the country and reach a political resolution that fulfils popular demands, as well as the aspirations of the people of Bahrain," they said in a statement.

"The meeting's discussion was honest and transparent.

"The opposition delegates presented their views regarding power sharing in a real political process that should lead to an inclusive democratic political system which guarantees dignity, justice and equality for all Bahrainis."

The statement denounced violence, but also called for a "security crackdown" to end.

"It is necessary that bilateral meetings are scheduled to help deal with the obstacles and difficulties that disrupted the National Dialogue, and to help reach an inclusive political resolution," said the statement.

The National Dialogue participants are divided into four main groups - the political opposition, a National Coalition representing Sunni political groups, the National Assembly (Shura Council members and MPs) and the government. - TradeArabia News Service