Minister who during a briefing on Cabinet deliberations ruled out the speculations about some of the new laws have not yet been implemented. “That’s what I want to tell you that all of the recommendations of the National Assembly have been implemented or are being implemented,” she categorically stated.
Rajab elaborated, during the weekly press briefing, following the cabinet meeting, that most of the recommendations were implemented, and some other are in the process of implementation. Mrs. Rajab guaranteed the attentiveness of the concerned ministries, which work continuously to complete the implementation of all of the National Council’s recommendations.
Concerning the continuation of the National Consensus Dialogue, Her Excellency stressed that the government declared, in many occasions, that it will continue its participation in the dialogue, based on its belief that dialogue is the language of logic with which all problems would be resolved. Her Excellency reconfirmed that the National Consensus Dialogue is considered an important and serious matter to the government, and that the dialogue will continue until consensus is reached for the welfare of the country and its people. Answering a question on the progress in implementing the five-year plan of the Ministry of State for Information Affairs and the achievements made in the media sector, Mrs. Rajab said that experts were consulted, during several months, in order to set the five-year plan, which was approved by the Cabinet, and is now being implemented according to the timeframes it contained.
Her Excellency Mrs. Sameera Ebrahim Bin Rajab mentioned the great development witnessed by the performance of the Bahrain News Agency in all its areas and divisions and that the positive performance is being monitored through the increasing rate of the number of visitors. Further, Her Excellency mentioned that the agency is now Bahrain’s main voice and that the agency will be transferred soon to an independent building that enjoys all the required technical equipment.
Her Excellency added that two studios were constructed during Eid Al-Fitr and there are upcoming projects to build new studios and we are waiting to offer tenders for these projects. Moreover, the media follow-up directorate responsible for foreign media has been established to communicate with media representatives inside and outside of Bahrain.
In reference to the new media workforce, Her Excellency pointed out that work is in progress on the development of human capital for the media sector and indicated that the approval for the new organizational structure for the Information Affairs Authority is in place and the employees are currently being placed in the new organizational structure.
Her Excellency denied what has been attributed to her from recent statements and stated that there are some prominent names that are conversing incorrect information about Bahrain and necessary efforts are executed to negate these lies.
Her Excellency the Minister of State for Information Affairs and the Official Government Spokesperson initiated the press conference by presenting a press briefing on the main topics discussed during the weekly cabinet session.
Her Excellency pointed out that the cabinet condemned during the beginning of the session the bombings that took place in Lebanon and stressed that these bombings do not benefit any party and wished Lebanon continuous stability and security. She said that the Cabinet extended its deepest regret over the natural disaster in Sudan, and decided to offer aid to the people of Sudan. Her Excellency mentioned that the Cabinet congratulated HRH the Prime Minister on being honored the European Award for the International Personality of the Year for 2013 by the Association of Arab Economists and Administrators in the European Union.
Mrs. Rajab explained that the Cabinet discussed a number of subjects and memorandums listed on the agenda on which the following decisions were made: The Cabinet discussed the memorandum presented by His Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs on the proposed recommendations of the National Committee for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. The committee recommended forming an independent authority to follow up on matters related to the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (Chemical, biological, nuclear and radioactive), in order to fulfill all the commitments of the related UN Security Council conventions, treaties, initiatives and resolutions, Urging all ministries and government entities to complete the legislative and regulatory aspects and requirements concerning weapons of mass destruction and dual-use substances, establishing a national central laboratory that meets the needs of all ministries. The Cabinet decided to refer the matter to the Civil Defense Council in coordination with the Bahrain Defense Force, for further study.
The Cabinet discussed the memorandum presented by His Excellency the Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning on the national plan to combat oil pollution and other harmful substances in cases of emergency. The plan aims to set measures and procedures at the local and regional levels in emergency cases of pollution due to oil or hazardous biological or chemical substances. The plan is based on defining the degree of contamination, risk involved, as well as actions to be taken in each specific case, and the responsibilities in accordance with the local laws and international conventions signed by the kingdom of Bahrain. The Cabinet decided to refer the subject to the relevant ministerial committee for further study.