HRH Premier chairs cabinet session

Manama, Sept. 14 (BNA): The cabinet has welcomed the fruitful outcomes of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa's recent visit to the Republic of France and his talks with President Francois Hollande on ways to strengthen the existing relations and cooperation between the two friendly countries. The cabinet lauded the advanced level of the Bahraini-French relations, and the ever-progressing cooperation between them in light of the two countries' shared desire to widen the horizons of cooperation to serve common interests. Chaired by His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa at the Gudaibiya Palace today, the cabinet also lauded the importance of the talks held between His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, and the Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, in boosting relations with Italy and enhancing cooperation in various fields. Commenting on HRH the Crown Prince's visit to Italy, where he attended the National Day celebrations at the Bahrain's Pavilion in Expo Milano 2015, the cabinet praised the distinguished organisation of the Bahrain Pavilion at such a prestigious international event, Secretary-General of the Cabinet Dr. Yaser bin Essa Al-Nasser said in a statement following the session. The session then expressed deep sorrow over the collapse of a construction crane used in the expansion work at Makkah Grand Mosque, and extended profound condolences and sympathy to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the victims' families and the Arab and Islamic nations, praying to Allah Almighty to rest the souls of the deceased in eternal peace, bless the wounded with speedy recovery and safeguard Saudi Arabia, the Saudi people and pilgrims against all evils. In this context, the cabinet lauded the outstanding efforts of King Salman and his government to serve Haj pilgrims and harness all potentials to ensure they perform the pilgrimage rituals easily. The session strongly condemned the Israeli Occupation Forces' storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Al-Quds (Jerusalem) and assaulting worshippers. The cabinet denounced the encroachment on religious sanctities, and described it a dangerous, unacceptable and unjustified provocative act, and called upon the international community to assume its responsibilities by putting an end to the Israeli provocative measures against Islamic sites and the Palestinian people across the occupied territories. The session reiterated its support to the Palestinian issue, and backing of the Palestinian people's legitimate right to set up an independent Palestinian state with Al-Quds as its capital. In another context, the cabinet determined the fees for issuing licenses to extract marine sand, in line with its keenness on preventing the exploitation of the kingdom's main natural resources and in accordance with Clause Three of Article One of Law 37/2014 on the extraction and sale of marine sand. The Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning was requested to issue the required edict, as recommended in the memorandum presented by the Deputy Premier and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Financial Affairs and Rationalising Expenditure Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa. The session also approved a draft law proposed by the Shura Council on amending the Law on Protecting Society from Terrorist Acts. Under the amendment, penalties will be toughened on all forms of exaltation, glorification, justification or encouragement of terrorist acts. The possession or acquisition of any written or printed documents that promote, glorify, justify or encourage terrorist acts will be criminalised. The draft law inflicts a prison sentence of up to five years on those found guilty. The bill was referred to the Council of Representatives, alongside a memorandum including the government's opinion. Reviewing a memorandum submitted by Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning including 319 recommendations made by three municipal councils and the Capital Trustees Board during the fourth municipal term, the cabinet affirmed the government's keenness on supporting municipal work as the best means to promote popular participation in the municipal decision-making process. The session also discussed four proposals submitted by the Council of Representatives and approved the draft government replies to them, prepared by the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs. They include benefits for retirees, the acquisition of land lots for housing projects in Riffa, the building of a secondary school in Budaiya and combating the sale of ready-made research papers in some bookstores. On ministerial reports, the cabinet reviewed a report by the Industry and Commerce Minister on the kingdom's participation in the China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT), and highlighted the importance of taking part in such prestigious international events in which Bahrain's experience in the investment, trade and industrial fields was widely appreciated. The session was also informed about two reports submitted by the Energy Minister on the results of the meetings of the GCC Petroleum Cooperation Committee and Electricity and Water Cooperation, held recently in the State of Qatar. It also took note of the two reports submitted by the Labour Minister and Social Development Minister on the meetings of GCC Labour Ministers and GCC Social Affairs Ministers.