Cabinet orders full services to pilgrims; backs Saudi Arabia

Manama, Aug. 6 (BNA): His Royall Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa chaired the regular weekly Cabinet 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.  Directives to serve Bahraini pilgrims HRH the Prime Minister gave directives to provide all necessary services and facilities to Bahraini Haj pilgrims to enable them to perform their rituals to the fulllest, instructing the Bahrain Haj Mission to make the necessary preparations, through its teams on the ground, and remove all obstacles that may face pilgrims throughout their stay in the holy sites, until their return home, a post-session statement by the Cabinet Secretary-General, Dr. Yasser bin Isa Al-Nasser, said. Saudi services to pilgrims hailed HRH Premier lauded the constant care provided by Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Saman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, for Haj pilgrims, hailing the commendable and internationally-appreciated tremendous efforts exerted by the Saudi government in the service of Islam and Muslims. Saudi Arabia backed; Canada’s interference regretted The Prime Minister underlined Bahrain’s full-fledged support for the measures taken by sisterly Saudi Arabia against any attempts to interfere into its internal affairs, stressing Bahrain’s firm and full solidarity with Saudi Arabia in the face of any attempts to undermine its sovereignty. Meanwhile, HRH Premier expressed regret over Canada’s stance, describing it as a clear and blatant interference in a purely Saudi internal affair, in breach of the most basic international norms and covenants governing relations among countries. Housing Ministry requested to contact applicants HRH Premier gave directives to the Housing Ministry to contact housing applicants in A’ali to find the best solutions to absorb their demands within the the current or future housing projects, be it in the Ramli project or others. Umm Al-Hassam fishermen’s needs to be provided The Prime MInister requested the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning to study the requirements and needs of the fishermen in Umm Al-Hassam, and provide them with the necessary services and facilities.  Tanks’ relocation project to be completed in 2019 HRH Premier was informed about the executive steps taken so far to implement his directives to relocate the aviation fuel tanks away from the residential areas in Arad to a new complex at the Bahrain International Airport. In this regard, the Transportation and Telecommunications Minister gave a presentation in which he highlighted the project’s developments, noting that it will be completed in the second quarter of next year. Urgent solutions to Salmabad flats urged In line with HRH Premier’s directives to fulfill the the needs of the 7,000 citizens living in the 50 buildings containing 1150 flats in Salmabad, the cabinet referred to the Executive Council, chaired by HRH the Crown Prince, the visions submitted by the Housing Ministry in this regard. The Executive Committee will examine the visions and proposals presented by the Housing Minister to implement HRH Premier’s directives to find urgent solutions to the Salmabad flats’ residents, regarding the sufficiency of maintenance and necessary facilities. GAP to be consitent with SDGs 2030 The session approved the recommendations of the Executive Committee to ensure that the next Government Action Plan (GAP) should be consistent with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030, and the Post-2015 Agennda, both endorsed by the United Nations, and requested the National Information Committee to follow up on the matter. The cabinet requested all ministries and government departments to make sure that their goals, plans and policies to be included in the next GAP should be developed in conformity with SDGs 2030, and to provide the necessary information and data that make sustainable development indicators measurable. The session also ordered the establishment of a section at the Information and e-Government Authority (iGA) to monitor the progress made in achieving SDGs, and to measure their indicators. Bahrain to host UNCITRAL’s regional MENA centre  The cabinet endorsed, based on a recommendation by the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs, as highlighted in the memorandum presented by the Deputy Premier and committee chairman, a draft agreement between Bahrain and the UN to establish a regional centre for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) for the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). To be headquartered in the kingdom, the centre will provide technical assistance regarding the use and adoption of UNCITRAL texts. Legislature thanked for constructive cooperation with government  The cabinet, while reviewing the legislative achievements during the previous session or the whole Fourth Legislative Term through a presentation by the Cabinet Affairs Minister, extended deepest thanks and appreciation to the Council of Representatives and the Shura Council for their "sincere and constructive” cooperation with the government. The session lauded the constructive efforts exerted throughout the fourth term to optimise national gains, hailing the fruitful achievements attained thanks to strong Executive-Legislature cooperation.