The State Minister for Information Affairs, Sameera bint Ibrahim Rajab told the weekly media breifing on Cabinet that the new law would address the deficiencies in the current Law, particularly those related to the conditions regulating electronic media.
“At the opening of the session, HRH the Prime Minister praised the success of HM King Hamad’s visit to Egypt, which fulfilled its goal of supporting a unified Arab stance towards the nation,” she said.
“HRH extended greetings to the leadership and the people of Egypt on the anniversary of the 6th of October war. On a separate note, HRH extended his greetings to the leadership and people of Bahrain on the occasion of Eid Al Adh’ha,” she said.
The Cabinet discussed, during the regular session of October 6, 2013 in Qudaibiya Palace, a number of subjects and memorandums listed on the agenda.
The Cabinet Discussed the Memorandum Presented by His Excellency the Deputy Prime Minister, President of the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs on the Media and Communication Draft Law.
Following the Constitution, the Draft Law drew upon the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 10 December 1948 and in particular Article (19) thereof, and Act No. (56) of 2006 approving the accession of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which reveal the legislator’s keenness to inspire common human values involved in organizing the various aspects of the information and communication sector, and the freedom of opinion and expression.
The Cabinet decided to refer the memorandum to the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs for further review.
The Cabinet discussed and approved the memorandum presented by His Excellency the Deputy Prime Minister, President of the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs on the Draft Law approving the Safety Regulations for small cargo ships, which are not included in the international maritime treaties in the GCC countries.
The aim of such regulations is to standardize safety procedures, protect the maritime environment, achieve the security requirements needed for those types of ships, unify the issuance of the appropriate certificates for such vessels as well as enhance the manning levels and the proper operation of ships, particularly passenger ships which contribute to providing a secure environment for the passenger transport industry by sea in the waters of the Arabian Gulf.
The Cabinet discussed the memorandum presented by His Excellency the Minister of Industry and Trade on the draft decree law amending some provisions of the Commercial Companies Law No. (21) for the year 2011.
The draft law aims to keep abreast with the developments which the commercial life has witnessed recently, to overcome the obstacles in the field of establishing businesses, to simplify the legal and administrative procedures, to lay the principles of corporate governance, to create a sophisticated business environment that offer all the aid and facilities needed for investments and businesses, thus contributing to attracting more investment and promoting the ranking of the Kingdom of Bahrain in the international classifications and indicators.
The Cabinet discussed the memorandum presented by His Excellency the Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning on the draft law for property renting rules, whose provisions apply to all kinds of property except agricultural lands.
The draft law aims to repeal some of the laws that have become through the practical application incompatible with the urban development, and led to the creation of a legal dispute over the interpretation of some of its provisions as they are no longer suitable.
The Cabinet discussed the memorandum presented by His Excellency the Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs concerning the draft decree on the establishment of the National Committee for International Humanitarian Law.
The project aims to create an ad hoc committee concerned with all the matters related to the implementation and application of international humanitarian law and the formulation of policies, strategies and plans related to it. The Committee, in particular, shall exchange information and expertise with other national organizations and committees concerned with this matter and strengthen its efforts with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other authorities concerned with the principles of international humanitarian law and its application.
The Cabinet decided to refer the memorandum to the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs for further review.