MANAMA: The cabinet condemned the false allegations and hostile statements made by the Iraqi Prime Minister against brotherly Saudi Arabia, asserting that they are baseless and inaccurate, and are not based on realistic diagnosis of the causes of terrorism, which have become crystal-clear to everyone.
The cabinet lauded the tremendous efforts exerted by Saudi Arabia, under the wise leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdulla bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, to combat terrorism and cooperate with regional and global sides to eradicate it.
His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa chaired at the Gudaibiya Palace on Sunday, in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, the regular weekly cabinet meeting.
The cabinet affirmed the government’s interest and keenness to consolidate the competence and preparedness of the security bodies so as to enable them to assume their duties in safeguarding security and stability and combating terrorism, which was reflected in HRH Premier’s patronage of the sixth and ninth batches of the students of the Royal Academy of Police in Safra.
Secretary-General of Cabinet Dr. Yaser bin Essa Al-Naser issued a detailed statement following the cabinet session.
Dr. Al-Naser said HRH Premier asserted the government’s support for all artistic works and exhibitions sponsored by cultural institutions and centres in Bahrain to enable Bahraini artists to showcase their creativity and convey their message to world, adding that the Premier called for orgsanising more expos like the “Muharraqi: Father and Son” Exhibition hosted by the Shaikh Ebrahim Centre for Culture and Research in Muharraq, under HRH Premier’s patronage.
HRH Premier directed all ministers to speed up the implementation of the proposals submitted by the Council of Representatives, and instructed the relevant sides to create suitable mechanisms to fast-track the implementation process.
HRH Premier was also briefed on what has been done so far regarding the government’s plan to build a branch of the University of Bahrain in Muharraq, and allocate land lots to build private universities there, and instructed the Ministerial Committee for Services and Infrastructure to coordinate with the Education Ministry and other relevant sides in this concern
HRH Premier issued instructions to remove all obstacles impeding the implementation of government projects, requesting all ministries to finalise them according to schedule.
In this regard, the cabinet a memo presented by the Deputy Premier and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Services and Infrastructure pertaining to the 123 government projects and programmes referred to it from July, 2013, to February, 2014.
A total of 62 projects have been implemented, while 61 are being executed, the cabinet learnt.
HRH Premier commended the efforts made by the panel to facilitate the implementation process of government projects and programmes.
The cabinet tasked the Executive Committee, chaired by HRH Crown Prince, to come up with mechanisms to fund the infrastructure of heritage projects so as to consolidate the Kingdom’s position in the tourism and cultural fields and enhance efforts to preserve its handicrafts and heritage sites, in line with the memo presented by the Minister of Culture.
The Cabinet discussed and approved the memorandum presented by the Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs on a draft Law amending some provisions of Decree Law No. (5) for the year 2002 ratifying the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
Under the draft law, Articles (2) and (15), paragraphs (4) and (16) of CEDAW, will be amended “without violating the provisions of Islamic Sharia”.
The Cabinet also discussed a memo presented by the Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs on draft Law amending some provisions of the Penal Code, issued by decree law No. (15) for the year 1976.
The amendment aims to inflict tougher punishment on bribery crimes committed a public official or whoever is assigned to carry out a public service.
The memo was referred to the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs for further study.
The Cabinet discussed the memorandum presented by the Minister of Labour and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) on determining the fees payable by the licensing agencies that supply workers and by employment offices as well as determining the permits granted to foreign employers to conduct their work in the Kingdom, and the work permits of domestic workers and those equivalent to them.
The memo was referred to the Ministerial Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs for further review.
The Minister of Education’s memo on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Ministry of Education and the Boris Yeltsin Presidential Library of the Federal Republic of Russia was also discussed during the session.
This MoU aims to enhance cooperation in the fields of libraries, sources of knowledge, digital archiving as well as the exchange of expertise and training in the field libraries.
The Cabinet discussed and approved another memo on re-forming the National Committee for Standardization and Metrology, presented the Minister of Industry and Commerce.
The cabinet also endorsed two memoranda of understanding to be signed between Bahrain and Pakistan on cooperation in the fields of energy, water and food security, and referred them to the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs for further study.
The cabinet was notified of the approval of the Representatives and Shura Councils of a draft law on ratifying the protocol of the agreement signed between Bahrain and China on Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion, Dr. Yaser bin Essa Al-Naser said.