HRH Premier chairs cabinet session

07 : 05 PM - 25/04/2016 Manama, Apr. 25 (BNA): The Cabinet has lauded the positive results of the summit held recently in Riyadh between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Morocco. His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa led the kingdom's delegation to the summit, given its importance in strengthening cooperation between GCC countries and Morocco on confronting challenges that affect their security and stability, and the need to stand together firmly against all threats. His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa chaired the cabinet regular session, attended by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, at the Gudaibiya Palace today. The session welcomed the outcomes of the GCC-US Summit, also held in Riyadh, with the participation of HM King Hamad, Cabinet Secretary-General Dr. Yasser bin Isa Al-Nasser said in a statement following today's regular meeting. The Cabinet described the GCC-US Summit as "constructive and fruitful", noting that it will contribute to enhancing political, military, economic and investment cooperation between GCC countries and the USA. In this regard, the Cabinet hailed the initiative of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to call for the GCC-Moroccan Summit, with the participation of the Moroccan Monarch, HM King Mohammed VI, and the GCC-US Summit, with the participation of US President Barack Obama. King Salman's initiative reflects the keenness to step up Arab and international coordination on the challenges and threats the region is facing, the session said. The Cabinet then welcomed the visit of HM King Mohammed VI to Bahrain at the invitation of HM King Hamad, wishing the kingdom's distinguished guest a pleasant stay. The session also extended congratulations to workers and saluted them on Labour Day, to be observed on May 1, lauding the Bahraini workers' national role and contributions to building the nation and enhancing its progress and prosperity. It also underscored the government's keenness on optimising labour achievements, and providing a work environment that stimulates more production. The cabinet affirmed that freedom of expression is guaranteed by the constitution and the laws in the kingdom. While reiterating the government's commitment to supporting those freedoms, the cabinet stressed that the personal accounts of public employees on social media networks represent their opinions, and not the stances of the government departments to which they belong. The accounts do not, in any way, reflect the policies of the government which has enough officials and means to express its opinion and show its visions, the cabinet said, emphasising that the official statements issued by the government on issues of interest to the public opinion should be considered the only reference to the government's view. The session requested the Civil Service Bureau to put forward the rules that regulate the administrative responsibility for that issue, calling on the media to be accurate and seek government-related information from official sources and not rely on individual statements that represent only those who make them. On development efforts across the kingdom, HRH Premier issued directives to follow up on the Isa Town needs regarding services, facilities and infrastructure projects, and requested the Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning to coordinate with the Southern Municipal Council in this issue. HRH the Prime Minister also reviewed the housing needs of some villages and towns, including the Abu Baham and Buri villages, and tasked the Ministerial Committee for Urbanisation and Infrastructure to examine the proposed sites to implement housing projects in the two villages. HRH Premier also issued instructions to revamp some heritage sites and open them to the public, and requested the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism to follow up on the matter. The session approved a draft agreement between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia on air transportation, and commissioned the Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications to sign it on behalf of the Government of Bahrain. It also approved an Air Transportation Agreement signed between Bahrain and Tunisia, and referred it to the Legislative Branch, in accordance with the constitutional and legal procedures in force. A draft agreement between Bahrain and Egypt on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income was also endorsed by the session which also referred to the Ministerial Committee for Social Services, Telecommunications and Media a memorandum presented by the Minister of Information Affairs on the issuance of a sports newspaper. The Cabinet also took note of the National Electricity and Water Conservation Campaign to be implemented between July 1 and September 30, highlighted in the memorandum presented by the Minister of Energy in this regard. The session the discussed three proposals submitted by the Council of Representatives on housing services for the deaf and the dumb, the councils of the retirees and elderly people in the kingdom's various governorates and an integrated rehabilitation hospital. The Cabinet approved the government's replies on the proposals, as recommended by the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs.