24/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - EU welcomes call for national dialogue. On Wednesday 23 January, the European Union welcomed the call made on Tuesday by the King of Bahrain, Hamad ben Issa al-Khalifa, for a new round of national dialogue. The spokesperson for the EU high representative for foreign affairs said: “We warmly welcome the King's call for a new round of national dialogue, building on the Crown Prince's recent offer of dialogue which was a very welcome step, as well as the encouraging reply by the opposition”. He pointed out that the EU “has consistently called on all parties to enter into a meaningful and inclusive national dialogue, which will enable outstanding political and socio-economic issues to be addressed over the long term, and avoid any form of violence, in a spirit of reconciliation”. He added that the EU stands ready to support the process. The King of Bahrain has called on all the different political groups to get involved in the dialogue on the country's future. The uprising in Bahrain began in the middle of February 2011. (CG/transl.fl)