The decision to open up Bahrain to embrace all people indiscriminately was fostered in me ever since I was a child.

History shows that no enemy remains hostile forever, nor do friends remain friendly forever. For that reason, we intend to have normal relations with all.

Democracy is not just constitutional and legislative rules; it is a culture and practice and adhering by the law and respecting international human rights principles.

Bahrainis are better off than many other Arabs. We have a welfare state, everybody gets a salary whether they have a job or not. Electricity and food are subsidized school and healthcare are free. And we don't differentiate between Bahrainis and foreigners. We are very proud of that.

If somebody gives me his hand, I will not look at him with suspicion.

It's good to have a leader, otherwise we argue too much.

There is no ethnic cleansing in Bahrain, no mass genocide, no policy of killing innocent people.