National Dialogue bilateral meetings are continuing , State Information Minister said

Manama, Apr27(BNA)Bilateral meetings relating to the national dialogue are continuing, Minister of State for Information Affairs and Government's Official Spokesperson Sameera Ebrahim bin Rajab said. "The current stage is characterized by continuous bilateral meetings ", she said in a press conference following the weekly Cabinet session at Gudaibiya Palace. Efforts of the Bahraini security forces in maintaining security and protecting the society from terrorism were commended by His Royal Highness the Prime Minister, Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al, she Speaking during the press briefing meeting, chaired at the Gudaibiya Palace today by HRH Premier, She said that the Prime Minister had called upon the Minister of Labour Jameel Al Humaidan to review the obstacles faced by Small and Medium Enterprises (SME). The minister would deal with the violations of the sector and provide the best working environment for the development of their businesses. This plays a significant role in the performance of the private sector and national economy, the Spokesperson explained. The cabinet approved a memorandum on setting regulations for promoting energy-saving air conditioners and incandescent lamps. The proposed measures aim to strengthen legislations and measures already implemented by the government in rationalising electricity consumption. The document was presented by the Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Committee for Controlling and Rationalising Expenditures and Enhancing Income and Productivity in ministries and government institutions. It called for establishing specifications for air conditioners -- the manufacture and supply, as also imposing a ban on the manufacture and import of incandescent lamps, in ministries and government institutions. A memorandum presented by the Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Dr Juma Ahmed Al Ka'abi on old and dilapidated houses suggested demolishing abandoned houses found hazardous to their habitants, neighbouring houses or nearby pedestrians. He also called for evacuation of buildings inhabited by foreign workers, or ensure that health and safety requirements are present. The minister also suggested evacuating such buildings inhabited by Bahraini families and providing them with alternatives. The report indicated that there are 1946 old houses in all of the kingdom’s five governorates, of which some are abandoned, and others are inhabited by Bahraini families or foreign workers. The cabinet decided to refer the matter to the concerned ministerial committee for further review. The Minister of Education Dr. Majid Al-Nuaimi's memorandum, calling for the improvement of school hours for the intermediate level --starting from the next academic year 2014-2015, met with cabinet approval, said the Spokesperson. The project will be implemented in September 2014. The school day will end at quarter past two instead of one o’clock, said the Minister. She added that applying new school hours follows the success of such application to secondary schools in the Kingdom, the recommendations of the UNESCO that hours of schooling be approximately 1000, as well as the measures adopted by the Ministry to develop school environment, teachers’ training and school leaderships. An amendment to an earlier law ratifying the civil aviation agreements between the government of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan was also approved by the cabinet. It was presented by the Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs. The agreement aimed to regulate air transport services between the Bahrain and Pakistan in line with the latest developments in international air transport industry -- particularly regarding civil aviation safety and security, the security of travel documents as well as the cooperation between the airlines of both countries. The new agreement will replace the previous one signed between the two countries on February, 1975. The cabinet approved a memorandum which aims to create a proper environment for encouraging greater reciprocal economic cooperation --particularly in the areas of investment made by the investors of Pakistan and Bahrain. The memorandum was presented by the Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs. It called for the ratification of an agreement on encouragement and reciprocal protection of investments between the two governments. HRH Prime Minister, according to the official spokesperson, also welcomed the visits of the King of Spain, and the President of Sri Lanka to Bahrain due next week. He said it enhances the cooperation and friendly relations between Bahrain and both countries. The cabinet decided to refer to the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs for further review a memorandum presented by the Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Committee for Controlling and Rationalising Expenditures and Enhancing Income and Productivity in ministries and government institutions, on the draft law amending some provisions of the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) No. (64) for the year 2006 concerning the involvement of ministries and government institutions in Credit Information Centres. A memorandum on strengthening strategic partnership between Bahrain and Malaysia in the field of exchanging information, expertise and training as well as to enhance cooperation in the field of scientific research related to the quality assurance of education and training was presented to cabinet. It was referred to the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs for further review. The Minister of Shura Council and Parliament Affairs and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Authority for Qualifications and Quality Assurance of Education and Training (QAAET) made the presentation. AAM A H N