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HRH the Prime Minister Chairs the Weekly Cabinet Meeting [Bahrain News Agency](Bahrain News Agency Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Secretary General of the Cabinet, Manama, 21 July 2013: His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa chaired the regular weekly Cabinet meeting at the Gudaibiya Palace today. After the meeting Dr. Yaser bin Essa Alnaser, Secretary General of the Cabinet, released the following statement: The Cabinet acknowledged that the government has taken all necessary procedures to enforce the law against anyone who has incited and/or is behind the disgraceful terrorist act that targeted a mosque in West Riffa while people were participating in Taraweeh prayers during this Holy month of Ramadan. They noted such an inhumane act goes against Bahrain society's religious beliefs. The Minister of Interior gave the Cabinet a security briefing regarding this terrorist attack and the procedures taken by the Ministry that led to the arrest in record time of three people suspected of involvement in the attack. In this context, the Cabinet noted that the government, through the Ministry of Interior and Security Agencies, must take all necessary measures and procedures to combat all forms of terrorism under its commitment to international law, human rights and national laws that fight terrorism and criminal activity. The Cabinet strongly condemned the bombing, stressing that such an escalation is a dangerous precedent that requires the appropriate response and it reflects the malicious motives behind those terrorist groups, following the continued success achieved by the security agencies in maintaining order and ensuring stability. The Cabinet called on citizens to not respond to any incitement, which is damaging to the community's unity and cohesion. The Cabinet welcomed the support of the House of Representatives with the government forming a united front to combat terrorism and those who support it and incite it; and also expressed their thanks and appreciation to the neighboring and allied countries, as well as regional and international organizations, for supporting Bahrain and condemning the heinous terrorist attack. HRH the Prime Minister informed the Cabinet of the content of his talks with HH Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah, Emir of Kuwait, during HRH's visit to Kuwait, where he also met with HH Crown Prince Shaikh Nawaf Al Ahmed Al Sabah and the Prime Minister HH Shaikh Jaber Al Mubarak Al Hamad Al Sabah. The Cabinet reiterated the strong relationship between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the State of Kuwait and the importance of this visit to support and strengthen the ties on both the bilateral and GCC level. The Cabinet then followed up on several topics regarding providing superior government services to the public, in addition to strengthening trade, economic and cultural relations with friends and allies. In this context, HRH the Prime Minister called for updating economic legislation to ensure greater openness in trade and economic matters, and encourage investments in the Kingdom. In this regard, he also commissioned all ministries and governmental entities according to their specialty to review that legislation that falls under their jurisdiction. On another note, HRH Prime Minister directed to quickly replace outdated electrical cables with new ones as soon as possible in areas around Isa Town to avoid sudden power outages as a result of excessive loads. He also instructed to consider establishing a community center to serve Galali, Al Dair and Samaheej; and urged authorities to expedite the establishment of the community center to serve the citizens of Busaiteen and to take the necessary procedures to list the establishment of such a center in a Tender. The Cabinet then discussed the memorandums listed on its work agenda and made the following decisions: First: The Cabinet approved an independent national mechanism that allows monitoring prisons, detention centers and detainees through the Commission of the Rights of Prisoners and Detainees, which is specialized in monitoring prisons, detentions centers, juvenile centers and other places used for detention (e.g., hospitals and mental institutions), in order to verify the condition of the detainees, the treatment they receive, and ensure they are not subjected to torture, or inhumane or degrading treatment. The Commission will practice its tasks freely and impartially with full transparency and independence, taking into account the composition of its members and representing different spectrums of society. The establishment of this Commission comes in fulfillment to the recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiries (BICI) and in alignment with the recommendations of the Human Rights Council in its Universal Periodic Review and the Convention Against Torture and Cruel and Inhumane or Degrading Treatment. The Cabinet referred the draft decree in this matter to the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs. Second: The Cabinet decided to amend its decision for bidding on Fourth Generation Telecom Services and amend the National Telecom Plan so that radio spectrums are allocated to the current three service providers who hold mobile communication services licenses to provide services based on the Long Term Evolution (LTE) in the radio spectrums 900, 1800, and 2100 MHz for the three service providers only in accordance with the Telecommunications law. The Cabinet commissioned the Minister of State for Communications to take all necessary steps to remove barriers to allocate necessary radio spectrums to serve the Fourth Generation in alignment with Article 15B of the Telecommunications law. The Cabinet also assigned the Ministry of State for Communications to coordinate with the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs on this matter, after reviewing the recommendations submitted by the Ministerial Committee for Social Services, Media, Transport and Communications Affairs. Third: The Cabinet approved the framework agreement between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development on the use of the grant allocated by the Government of Kuwait to finance development projects in the Kingdom of Bahrain, which was signed by the two countries in September 2012. After reviewing the recommendation submitted by the Ministerial Committee for Services and Infrastructure, the Cabinet reviewed the accuracy and completeness of procedures and the approval of the agreement in accordance with the legislations and regulations implemented in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Fourth: In light of the recommendation submitted by the Ministerial Committee for Social Services, Media, Transportation and Communications, the Cabinet commissioned the Minister of State for Information Affairs to provide an integrated financial program which includes the cash flows required to implement the program and the executive initiatives that achieves the Strategic Media Plan of the years 2013-2018. Fifth: The Cabinet approved the final signature on the convention that encourages and institutes mutual protection of investments between the Government of Bahrain and the Government of People's Republic of Bangladesh, and commissioned the Minister of Finance to sign it on behalf of the Government of Bahrain. Sixth: The Cabinet followed up on projects related to roads, sanitation and building carried out by the Ministry of Works. These include: (1) the project to develop Jau Village and the development of the street that extends between the Villages of Jau and Askar; (2) the development of Street 1 in Sitra; and (3) the completion of the new administrative building of the House of Representatives and the Survey and Land Registration Bureau building. The Cabinet took note on a number of Tenders that were put forward in the 2nd Quarter of 2013, which amounted to 16 tenders worth 15 million Dinars in the roads, sanitation and building projects sector; as well as projects awarded in the 2nd Quarter of 2013, amounting to 17 tenders with the total cost of 8 million Dinars. Seventh: The Cabinet discussed the Minister of Industry and Commerce's memorandum on the final draft of the executive list for the law of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Bahrain issued by Law Decree 48 (2012), as well as another draft for the decision to determine the amounts payable for all services performed by the Chamber, which was approved by the Board of Directors in December 2012 and approved by the General Assembly in February 2013 in accordance with Article 19 of the above mentioned law. The Cabinet referred the matter to the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs. Ends. Publishing Rights Reserved to Bahrain News Agency (c) 2013 Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |