Parliament, government cooperation stressed

Manama, Jan. 25 (BNA): Information and Parliament Affairs Minister Isa Abdulrahman Al Hammadi reiterated the government's keenness to boost the principle of cooperation between branches and dedicate all available resources as per the constitution. Speaking at the post-cabinet press briefing today, he underlined the government's keenness to bolster cooperation with the legislature for the welfare of Bahrain and its citizens. He pointed out that His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa spotlighted during his visit to the Council of Representatives today the economic and political situation as well as the challenges facing the whole region. He said HRH the Premier stressed the need to exchange views in the joint committees between the Council of Representatives and the government to achieve the citizens' interests. Concerning the move to quiz the Ministers of Finance and Energy by the Council of Representatives, he said the committee in charge had expressed its viewpoint on the subject which will be included in the Council's agenda to take the appropriate decision. He stressed the government's compliance with all constitutional procedures followed by the council and its unwavering readiness for cooperation to ensure success of the work of the executive and legislative branches. Regarding the Information Affairs Ministry's decision to shut down a broadcasting channel of one of the dailies, Al-Hammadi asserted the ministry's commitment to enforcing the Printing and Publishing Law and complying with the licences granted to the media institutions to operate in Bahrain. He pointed out that any infringement of the licences requires the ministry's intervention to bring the situation back to normal and prevent any practice outside this framework. He said the ministry values the media institutions' keenness and vision to develop their activities and work and shift from the written media to the audio-visual one. He said applications have been submitted to the ministry, but he explained that the issue was clear and the applications will be processed when the law allows it. The minister pointed out that work is going on to complete the comprehensive media draft law which will be submitted to the legislative branch. He added that the media institutions will have a part in this law by contributing their opinions before the draft law is presented to the legislature. Al-Hammadi explained that what happened was a routine procedure followed by any legal party enforcing the law and is committed to the granted licences. He commended the role of all media institutions in Bahrain despite all challenges facing them, including mainly a decrease in the advertising momentum which is their main source of revenues. He also lauded the major role of the media in shedding light on projects being carried out in Bahrain.