Deputy Premier: Government is keen to meet citizens' aspirations

Manama, July 1 (BNA): Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the Ministerial Committee for Financial Affairs and Rationalising Expenditure Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa stressed the government’s keenness to ensure the general budget for the next two fiscal years 2015-2016 meets the aspirations of the leadership and citizens and reflects cooperation between the executive and legislative branches. The Deputy Premier lauded cooperation of the Shura and Representatives Councils when discussing details of the budget with the government’s representatives, expressing hope the same positive spirit would prevail in the extraordinary session of the Representatives Council which will convene tomorrow to discuss the draft budget and the decree-law amending the law provisions governing development bonds. He commended the consensus reached by the executive and legislative branches on matters aimed at preserving current achievements and building on them for citizens’ best interest. The Deputy Prime Minister commended the legislative authority’s understanding of the exceptional hard financial situation undergone by the region due to a sharp drop in oil prices. He lauded the executive and legislative branches’ consensual agreement in principle to improve the state’s financial situation through essential initiatives aimed at reducing the general debt which has exceeded its acceptable levels. The Deputy Premier paid tribute to Bahrain leadership for their constant keenness on boosting citizens’ welfare and preserving their dignity, stressing the importance of a stable financial situation for development to gain momentum. He added that measures to be taken in this respect will be based on consultation, in line with the directives of His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa. He asserted that the inevitable measures would not affect citizens’ living conditions, pointing out the need for the well-off to play a part in this regard. The Deputy Prime Minister reiterated the need for trust and support of the legislative branch to all practical steps aimed at serving the supreme national interest.