Prominent community members of Bahrain have praised His Majesty King Hamad's speech on the occasion of the last 10 days of Ramadan.

In the address, broadcast on Bahrain Television and relayed on other television and radio stations, His Majesty pledged unity, justice and forgiveness.

His Majesty said all Bahrainis were united by the land and the country's success had been its cordial co-existence with various cultures but with its definite patriotism and civilisation.

He noted that past months had been painful for all Bahrainis, but Ramadan had helped to reunite Bahrainis by making them recall their traditional interactions, compassion and fraternity that were an integral part of growing up.

Shura Council first vice-chairman Jamal Fakhro praised His Majesty for his kindness to his people and for encouraging unity and forgiveness among all.

He said His Majesty's speech was very warm and thought provoking and believed now it was left to the people of Bahrain to respond to His Majesty's call to unite and forgive one another and live as they always have as one big family.

"Any sensible person would realise and understand that this country can only be what it has always been - a warm and friendly, one-family country and we can't live in non-co-operation," he told the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

"In Bahrain we can't live without each other, we have to live together and respect and forgive each other. It is now left to the Bahraini people to rethink again and adhere to what His Majesty said."

"The message was addressed to all on our island, to all Bahrainis and expats and I think it was one of his best messages really and people need to move on that."

In his address His Majesty spoke of reconciliation and urged that institutions quickly reinstate students and employees who were dismissed because of the unrest.

His Majesty's remarks came as more than 400 Bahraini students, who were suspended during the unrest earlier this year, were this week reinstated.

Al Wefaq former MP and economist Dr Jasim Husain welcomed His Majesty's call to reinstate those sacked as a result of the unrest.

He said their reinstatement was important for the economy, families and confidence building and he hoped employers would heed His Majesty's call on this matter.

According to Dr Husain's research on average, every employed person provides sustenance for four others.

"For every 1,000 people out of work 5,000 people are affected," he said.

"This is to do with the population because we have many young people who may not be in the labour market yet.

"So by reinstating people the benefit will extend to many others.

"I think it's very important those in charge must adhere to what His Majesty said and get them back to their jobs."

Dr Husain commended His Majesty's speech pledging forgiveness, which he said was in the spirit of Ramadan and Eid.

However, he said he was hoping His Majesty would have given some ideas or suggestions for solving the crisis.

"We need a political solution and I hope His Royal Highness Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander, will pick up on that and come up with some ideas," said Dr Husain.

"We need some new ideas for solving the crisis and making a way out.

"Six months into the crisis the effect can be seen on the economy, the growth rate is coming down, this year from 5.2 per cent to 1.6pc.

"We have also seen some events cancelled, there is no Formula One in 2011, the closest F1 is November 2012 and that is two-and-a-half years since March 2010 and the Manama Dialogue is not taking place here this year. There can only be a political solution to problems."

Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) retail and traditional markets committee head Jawad Al Hawaj welcomed His Majesty's pledge for unity, reconciliation and forgiveness and believed it would have a positive impact on the country.

He saluted His Majesty's call for sacked workers to be returned to their jobs and hoped employers would take notice.

"It was very much promising and we believe it will be good for the country and we are very much optimistic," he said.

"His Majesty is thinking much about the people, peace comes when people get back to work.

"I'm very much optimistic and I believe His Majesty with his speech coming to his people will be good for the country. People always have an expectation, but with the vision and his honest input definitely it is going on."

BCCI board member Khalid Al Amin praised His Majesty for his address and particularly his call to the nation to forgive and unite.

He said it was important that citizens observe His Majesty's call and do all they can to put Bahrain above any other interests for the benefit of all.

Al Amin said he felt strongly about His Majesty's comments and it was important that everyone worked together for the future of Bahrain.

"The economy needs big work from all concerned people, including the BCCI and Economic Development Board and everyone should expend their personal efforts in promoting Bahrain," he said.

He said the social networking tool Twitter had been used to spread damaging messages about the country and he urged the government to close it down.

"With all respect to the people who write on Twitter, it has been used by some to give wrong messages, it's a social networking tool but some have used it to demolish love to the country," said Al Amin.

"I hope the government will take steps to close Twitter in Bahrain, he added."-TradeArabia News Service