This came as HRH Premier chaired at the Gudaibiya Palace the regular weekly cabinet meeting.
HRH Premier issued directives to activate the agreements signed between Bahrain and Thailand on the sidelines of his Thai counterpart’s visit to the Kingdom so as to broaden the areas of cooperation and meet the expectations of their governments and friendly peoples.
Bahrain and Thailand had signed three agreements during the visit of Thai Premier to Bahrain last week notably on Food Security, Tourism and Joint Ventures in various sectors.
The cabinet lauded the popular support for moving from the cooperation phase among countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to a union one, launched by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdulla bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, affirming that the “Gulf Union” has become a popular demand as well as an official goal given its importance in optimising common achievements and deterring threats amid the on-going regional and global challenges requiring countries to get united in order to be able to face them.
The Cabinet condemned, in the strongest terms, the statements made by some Iranian officials, asserting that interference in Bahrain’s internal affairs violates international norms and conventions, including the Charter of the United Nations and the principles upon which the Organisation of Islamic cooperation, and contravenes the values of good neighbourliness and mutual respect.
The cabinet also rejected categorically Iran’s continuous blatant meddling in GCC countries’ affairs and attempts to undermine the on-going efforts to bolster cooperation between them, noting that those violations were documented by GCC states’ permanent delegates to the United Nations in their letters the UN Secretary General and the General Assembly President.
The Cabinet also urged Iran to adhere to the international norms governing relations between sovereign countries and make sure that those statements and practices harming its relations with its GCC neighbours are not repeated.
HRH Premier issued directives to accept the citizens’ requests to change their demands for housing services, making sure that the date of the first application is approved so as to ensure that all the waiting time is counted.
HRH Premier instructed the Housing Minister to establish a technical committee to study all the shift demands, praising the efforts made by the Housing Minister and the Ministry’s affiliates in implementing the government’s ambitious housing strategy and programmes in order to meet the citizens’ aspirations.
The Cabinet discussed and referred to the Civil Defence Council a national and regional plan to get prepared for and face radiological and nuclear emergencies, in line with the recommendations of the 31st GCC Summit, hosted by Abu Dhabi.
The Cabinet reviewed and referred to the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs a draft law submitted by the Interior Minister on regulating the registration of births and deaths and issuance of certificates by the Central Informatics and Communication Organisation, in coordination with the Health Ministry.
The Cabinet also discussed the Audit Court’s report on the State Consolidated Balance Sheet and its recommendations in this regard, and another one on the implementation of the state budget for the fiscal year 2011 and referred them to the Ministerial Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs.
The session also reviewed a memo presented by the Transport Minister on developing civil aviation in the kingdom through upgrading the services provided, as well as maintaining and expanding the Bahrain International Airport and referred it to the same committee to study the funding.
The Cabinet approved proposals submitted by the Representatives Council on establishing centres for developing the talents of children all over the kingdom, supporting Bahraini inventors and innovators, constructing a pedestrian bridge between Isa Town and Salmabad and building a mosque in Salmabad.
The Cabinet was also informed on the Shura and Representatives Councils’ approval of a draft law ratifying the protocol amending a protocol amending the Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and instructed the concerned sides to take the necessary procedures to implement it.