HRH Premier chairs cabinet session

Manama, Sept. 21 (BNA): His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa has extended sincere congratulations to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the Bahraini people on the advent of Eid Al-Adha, wishing them many happy returns. Chairing the cabinet session, which was attended by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, HRH Premier also prayed to Allah the Almighty to bless Bahrain and the Arab and Islamic nations with security, stability and prosperity, and enable Haj pilgrims to perform Haj rituals easily and grant them heavenly rewards. The cabinet urged to draw inspiration and lessons from the Haj through fostering Islamic fraternity, unifying ranks and putting aside differences and disputes, especially amid the challenges and serious threats jeopardizing the Islamic Nation, Secretary-General of the Cabinet Dr. Yaser bin Essa Al-Nasser said in a statement following the session, held at the Gudaibiya Palace today. Reviewing the outcomes of the recent GCC Ministerial Council's meeting in Riyadh, presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the session welcomed the stance of GCC ministers regarding the joint statement delivered by the Permanent Representative of the Swiss Federation on behalf of a group of states on the kingdom's domestic affairs during the 30th session of the Human Rights Council. In this regard, the cabinet affirmed that the Swiss Statement was unfair, failed to acknowledge Bahrain's human rights strides, and lacked credibility and impartiality, stressing that it ignored the advanced human rights situation in the kingdom and the developed strategies adopted by the Government of Bahrain to consolidate human rights and protect human dignity according to the best standards. HRH the Prime Minister issued directives to study the adequacy of harbours and service facilities and whether they meet the needs of fishermen in various regions, including Karbabad and adjacent areas. The Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister was tasked with the matter aiming to fulfill the needs of the citizens of the Capital Governorate's third constituency regarding such services. The cabinet approved a draft resolution on standards of supervision and control over media content under which all visual, audio, printed and electronic media are obliged to observe a number of regulations and standards while exercising the media work. Media should respect the kingdom's sovereignty, system of governance, icons, institutions and statutory bodies. They are also prevented from disseminating or publishing any information, news or any other materials that may undermine the kingdom's relations with other countries. They should also be committed to respecting religions, not compromising national and religious identity and not demeaning national unity and social cohesion. On education, the session reviewed a memorandum of understanding signed between Bahrain's Ministry of Education and UAE-based Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Charity Foundation on the establishment of two educational and technical institutes in the kingdom, included in the memorandum presented by the Education Minister, and referred it to the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs. It approved the issuance and publication of 44 review and follow reports prepared by the National Authority for Qualifications and Quality Assurance of Education and Training (QQA(. Presented by the Transportation and Telecommunications Minister and Deputy QQA Board of Directors Chairman, the reports included 11 high education academic programmes, 20 public schools, 5 provate schools and 8 vocational training establishments. In another context, the cabinet hailed the existing "fruitful" cooperation between the government and the National Assembly's two chambers. Commenting on a report on the first session of the fourth legislative term of the Representatives and Shura councils, from December 14, 2014, to July 7, 2015, the cabinet expressed its unwavering desire to maintain such cooperation and build on it to optimise achievements for the nation and the citizens. The cabinet also discussed five proposals submitted by the Council of Representatives and referred the government's draft replies to them to the council, as recommended by the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs. The proposals include the establishment of a harbour for fishermen in the Capital Governorate's third constituency, health care for Bahrain students abroad, the electricity and water fees for youth centres and clubs, the publication of financial reports, annual budgets and consolidated financial statements of the General Organisation for Social Insurance (GOSI)'s companies and the radio and television programmes directed to families.