UN AWARD HONOUR FOR EVERY BAHRAINI: PM
MANAMA, JUNE 24 (BNA) -- PRIME MINISTER SHAIKH KHALIFA BIN SALMAN AL KHALIFA HAS ASSERTED THAT THE 2006 SPECIAL CITATION OF THE UN HABITAT SCROLL OF HONOUR AWARD PRESENTED TO HIM BY THE UNITED NATIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING IS NOT FOR HIM ALONE BUT FOR EVERY BAHRAINI.
HE SAID THAT CITIZENS MAKE US REALISE HOW GOOD ARE
THE
GOVERNMENT SERVICES AND WHETHER THERE WAS NEED
TO UPGRADE THEM.
IN AN INTERVIEW WITH THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF THE UAE
DAILY 'AL
BAYAN', HE SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT POLICY IS TO
PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR
ALL PROJECTS THAT CONTRIBUTE IN THE ECONOMIC AND
SOCIAL GROWTH AS WELL
AS THOSE FACING ANY CHALLENGES IN THE COURSE OF THE
DEVELOPMENT
PROCESS.
THE PREMIER SAID THE INTERNATIONAL APPRECIATION
BAHRAIN IS
ENJOYING AT THE UNITED NATIONS WAS REFLECTED IN THE
AWARD THANKS TO
THE ACHIEVEMENTS MADE IN DIFFERENT FIELDS.
ON THE ECONOMIC GROWTH OF BAHRAIN, SHAIKH
KHALIFA SAID MANY
ACHIEVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE IN DIFFERENT AREAS,
ADDING THAT OUR
ASPIRATIONS HAVE NO LIMIT.
UN AWARD HONOUR FOR EVERY BAHRAINI: PM / 1ST ADD /
REFERRING TO THE BAHRAIN FINANCIAL HARBOUR, THE
PREMIER SAID IT WAS
AN INTERPRETATION OF BAHRAIN'S ABILITY TO COPE WITH
THE NEW INVESTMENT
ATMOSPHERE IN THE WORLD.
IT HAS BECOME AN ATTRACTIVE MEDIUM FOR INVESTMENT
IN LIGHT OF THE
LAWS AND REGULATIONS THAT ARE ABLE TO PROTECT THE
INVESTORS' RIGHTS,
HE SAID.
OUR AIM IS TO MAKE BAHRAIN THE TOP INVESTMENT
DESTINATION IN THE
REGION, HE SAID.
THIS REQUIRES STRENUOUS EFFORTS AND CREATIVE
INITIATIVES THAT ENABLE
US TO STAY IN THE LEAD, HE ADDED.
ON GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE, SHAIKH KHALIFA SAID
THERE WAS A KEENNESS
TO ENSURE THAT ALL GOVERNMENT SERVICES ARE
EFFICIENT AND ARE OFFERED
TO CITIZENS IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER.
THIS COULD ONLY BE ACHIEVED BY HAVING A CONTINUOUS
EVALUATION AND
REVIEW PROCESS WHICH IDENTIFIES THEIR STRENGTHS AND
WEAKNESSES, HE
SAID.
SHAIKH KHALIFA SAID THAT THE ACHIEVEMENTS IN THIS
AREA WERE THE
RESULT OF WELL-PLANNED POLICIES AND PLANS THAT,
ACCORDING TO
INTERNATIONAL REPORTS, HAVE PLACED BAHRAIN AMONG
COUNTRIES THAT ARE
ADVANCED IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC
PROSPERITY.
MANY PROJECTS AND HOUSING SERVICES HAVE BEEN
IMPLEMENTED WITHIN THE
FRAMEWORK OF A MAJOR NATIONAL HOUSING SCHEME, HE
SAID.
THE NUMBER OF SCHOOLS INCREASES ANNUALLY IN
CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE
REGULAR INCREASE IN THE ALLOCATION FOR EDUCATION IN
THE BUDGET, HE
SAID, ADDING THAT SIMILAR PROGRESS WAS BEING MADE IN
THE AREAS OF
HEALTH, HOUSING AND OTHER SERVICES THAT BAHRAIN IS
PROUD TO OFFER.
IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION ON THE COOPERATION
BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE
AND LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITIES, THE PREMIER SAID THAT
THE GOVERNMENT IS
DOING ALL IT COULD TO BOOST THIS RELATION FOR THE
WELFARE OF CITIZENS.
THROUGH THE NATIONAL SCHEME LAUNCHED BY HIS
MAJESTY KING HAMAD BIN
ISA AL KHALIFA, BAHRAIN HAS BEEN ABLE TO ESTABLISH A
NEW, ADVANCED
STAGE OF EFFECTIVE POLITICAL PARTICIPATION, HE SAID.
IT HAS ALSO BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE MAJOR LEAPS IN
DEVELOPING A
PARLIAMENTARY EXPERIENCE THAT IS CONSISTENT, HE
ADDED.
TALKING ABOUT THE SECURITY SITUATION IN BAHRAIN, THE
PRIME MINISTER
SAID THAT THE MAINTENANCE OF SECURITY IN THE
KINGDOM WAS ONE ASPECT
THAT COULD NOT BE NEGLECTED OR COMPROMISED LEST
ANY HARM SHOULD COME
TO OUR NATIONAL UNITY.
HE ADDED THAT THE BAHRAINIS ARE EDUCATED AND PUT
THE INTERESTS OF
THE NATION ABOVE ALL OTHER CONSIDERATIONS IN ORDER
TO HAVE A STABLE
AND STRONG BAHRAIN.
SHAIKH KHALIFA SAID THAT HE WORKS ALONGSIDE HM
KING HAMAD BIN ISA
AL KHALIFA FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE KINGDOM AND TO
ENSURE NOTHING HARMS
THE SECURITY AND STABILITY OF THE COUNTRY.
ABOUT THE MEDIA IN BAHRAIN, SHAIKH KHALIFA SAID
THERE WAS AN OPEN
AND FREE MEDIA IN THE KINGDOM PERFORMING ITS ROLE
WITHIN THE LAWS OF
THE LAND.
THE PRIME MINISTER SAID THAT HE TRUSTED THE SENSE OF
RESPONSIBILITY
OF THE BAHRAINI MEDIA IN DEDICATING ITS ABILITIES TO
PROMOTE NATIONAL
UNITY AND HIGHLIGHT THE CIVILISED ASPECTS OF BAHRAIN.
SHAIKH KHALIFA APPRECIATED THE NATIONAL ROLE OF THE
PRESS AND
WELCOMED CONSTRUCTIVE AND OBJECTIVE CRITICISM.
HE SAID THAT MINISTRIES AND OTHER GOVERNMENT
ORGANISATIONS HAD BEEN
INSTRUCTED TO INTERACT WITH THE LOCAL PRESS OVER
THE ISSUES TACKLED BY
IT SUCH AS THE PROBLEMS FACED BY CITIZENS WHEN
DEALING WITH
OFFICIAL BODIES.
HE ALSO SAID THAT THE DEEP-ROOTED TIES BETWEEN
BAHRAIN AND THE UAE
WERE WITNESSING CONSTANT DEVELOPMENT IN ALL FIELDS.
THEY ARE CONTINUOUSLY ENHANCED BY HIS MAJESTY KING
HAMAD AND UAE
PRESIDENT SHAIKH KHALIFA BIN ZAYED AL NAHYAN, HE
SAID.
THE TWO COUNTRIES' BILATERAL TIES ARE AN ADVANCED
MODEL FOR
OUTSTANDING RELATIONS BETWEEN COUNTRIES AS THEY
COVER MANY DIMENSIONS,
MAINLY THE EXPANDING ECONOMIC COOPERATION, HE SAID.
THE PRIME MINISTER SAID BAHRAIN WAS INVOLVED IN
MANY MAJOR JOINT
PROJECTS IN THE FIELDS OF ENERGY, BANKING, COMMERCE
AND LABOUR,
WHETHER ON A BILATERAL LEVEL OR ON A GCC LEVEL.
HE HOPED THIS COOPERATION COULD BE EXTENDED TO NEW
AND MORE DIVERSE
FIELDS.
ON THE COOPERATION BETWEEN GCC STATES, THE PRIME
MINISTER AFFIRMED
THAT THEY ARE ONE ENTITY AND THAT INTEGRATION IS
THEIR STRATEGIC
CHOICE FOR DEALING WITH THE FUTURE.
FOR THAT, THEY HAVE AGREED ON A NUMBER OF FINANCIAL
CRITERIA IN
PREPARATION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE GCC UNIFIED
CURRENCY BY 2010, HE
SAID.
SHAIKH KHALIFA HOPED THAT THE DECISION OF SOME GCC
COUNTRIES NOT TO
JOIN THE UNIFIED CURRENCY BY THE SCHEDULED DATE OR
TO REVIEW THE PLANS
RELATED TO IT WOULD NOT DELAY ITS INTRODUCTION.
ABOUT THE KINGDOM'S STANCE IN THIS REGARD, THE PRIME
MINISTER SAID
BAHRAIN IS COMMITTED TO ALL GCC RESOLUTIONS AND
ALWAYS ACTIVATES ALL
PROCEDURES TO ACHIEVE GULF INTEGRATION IN DIFFERENT
FIELDS.
HE SAID THAT THE CURRENT SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST
CALLED FOR THE
ARAB COUNTRIES TO TAKE A HISTORIC INITIATIVE FOR A JUST
PEACE TO END
THE STRUGGLE WITH ISRAEL.
HE WARNED THAT THE HINDRANCE TO THE PEACE PROCESS
AND THE ISRAELI
POLICIES AGAINST THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE COULD LEAD TO
AN ESCALATION OF
TENSION, VIOLENCE AND INSTABILITY IN THE REGION.
SHAIKH KHALIFA SAID THAT THE SITUATION IN IRAQ ALSO
MIGHT LEAD TO
A DIVISION OF THE COUNTRY AND ERUPTION OF
SECTARIANISM. HE ASSERTED
THAT THERE WAS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SUNNIS AND SHIAS
AND THAT ANY
DIFFERENCES AMONG THEM WOULD BE THE BEGINNING OF THE
DIVISION OF IRAQ.
SHAIKH KHALIFA SAID THAT THE ONLY SOLUTION FOR IRAQ
WAS FOR
EVERYONE TO RESPECT ITS UNITY, SOVEREIGNTY AND
INDEPENDENCE.
THE PRIME MINISTER ADDED THAT THERE HAD TO BE A
PEACEFUL SOLUTION
TO THE IRANIAN NUCLEAR CRISIS, ADDING THAT THE REGION
MUST BE FREE OF
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. HE SAID THAT THE GCC
STATES HAD THE RIGHT
TO HAVE NUCLEAR POWER FOR PEACEFUL MEANS AND THAT
OUR MAJOR
RESPONSIBILITY IS TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRIES AND PEOPLES.
EM// BS
24-JUN-2007 12:28
NNNN
HE SAID THAT CITIZENS MAKE US REALISE HOW GOOD ARE
THE
GOVERNMENT SERVICES AND WHETHER THERE WAS NEED
TO UPGRADE THEM.
IN AN INTERVIEW WITH THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF THE UAE
DAILY 'AL
BAYAN', HE SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT POLICY IS TO
PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR
ALL PROJECTS THAT CONTRIBUTE IN THE ECONOMIC AND
SOCIAL GROWTH AS WELL
AS THOSE FACING ANY CHALLENGES IN THE COURSE OF THE
DEVELOPMENT
PROCESS.
THE PREMIER SAID THE INTERNATIONAL APPRECIATION
BAHRAIN IS
ENJOYING AT THE UNITED NATIONS WAS REFLECTED IN THE
AWARD THANKS TO
THE ACHIEVEMENTS MADE IN DIFFERENT FIELDS.
ON THE ECONOMIC GROWTH OF BAHRAIN, SHAIKH
KHALIFA SAID MANY
ACHIEVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE IN DIFFERENT AREAS,
ADDING THAT OUR
ASPIRATIONS HAVE NO LIMIT.
UN AWARD HONOUR FOR EVERY BAHRAINI: PM / 1ST ADD /
REFERRING TO THE BAHRAIN FINANCIAL HARBOUR, THE
PREMIER SAID IT WAS
AN INTERPRETATION OF BAHRAIN'S ABILITY TO COPE WITH
THE NEW INVESTMENT
ATMOSPHERE IN THE WORLD.
IT HAS BECOME AN ATTRACTIVE MEDIUM FOR INVESTMENT
IN LIGHT OF THE
LAWS AND REGULATIONS THAT ARE ABLE TO PROTECT THE
INVESTORS' RIGHTS,
HE SAID.
OUR AIM IS TO MAKE BAHRAIN THE TOP INVESTMENT
DESTINATION IN THE
REGION, HE SAID.
THIS REQUIRES STRENUOUS EFFORTS AND CREATIVE
INITIATIVES THAT ENABLE
US TO STAY IN THE LEAD, HE ADDED.
ON GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE, SHAIKH KHALIFA SAID
THERE WAS A KEENNESS
TO ENSURE THAT ALL GOVERNMENT SERVICES ARE
EFFICIENT AND ARE OFFERED
TO CITIZENS IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER.
THIS COULD ONLY BE ACHIEVED BY HAVING A CONTINUOUS
EVALUATION AND
REVIEW PROCESS WHICH IDENTIFIES THEIR STRENGTHS AND
WEAKNESSES, HE
SAID.
SHAIKH KHALIFA SAID THAT THE ACHIEVEMENTS IN THIS
AREA WERE THE
RESULT OF WELL-PLANNED POLICIES AND PLANS THAT,
ACCORDING TO
INTERNATIONAL REPORTS, HAVE PLACED BAHRAIN AMONG
COUNTRIES THAT ARE
ADVANCED IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC
PROSPERITY.
MANY PROJECTS AND HOUSING SERVICES HAVE BEEN
IMPLEMENTED WITHIN THE
FRAMEWORK OF A MAJOR NATIONAL HOUSING SCHEME, HE
SAID.
THE NUMBER OF SCHOOLS INCREASES ANNUALLY IN
CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE
REGULAR INCREASE IN THE ALLOCATION FOR EDUCATION IN
THE BUDGET, HE
SAID, ADDING THAT SIMILAR PROGRESS WAS BEING MADE IN
THE AREAS OF
HEALTH, HOUSING AND OTHER SERVICES THAT BAHRAIN IS
PROUD TO OFFER.
IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION ON THE COOPERATION
BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE
AND LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITIES, THE PREMIER SAID THAT
THE GOVERNMENT IS
DOING ALL IT COULD TO BOOST THIS RELATION FOR THE
WELFARE OF CITIZENS.
THROUGH THE NATIONAL SCHEME LAUNCHED BY HIS
MAJESTY KING HAMAD BIN
ISA AL KHALIFA, BAHRAIN HAS BEEN ABLE TO ESTABLISH A
NEW, ADVANCED
STAGE OF EFFECTIVE POLITICAL PARTICIPATION, HE SAID.
IT HAS ALSO BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE MAJOR LEAPS IN
DEVELOPING A
PARLIAMENTARY EXPERIENCE THAT IS CONSISTENT, HE
ADDED.
TALKING ABOUT THE SECURITY SITUATION IN BAHRAIN, THE
PRIME MINISTER
SAID THAT THE MAINTENANCE OF SECURITY IN THE
KINGDOM WAS ONE ASPECT
THAT COULD NOT BE NEGLECTED OR COMPROMISED LEST
ANY HARM SHOULD COME
TO OUR NATIONAL UNITY.
HE ADDED THAT THE BAHRAINIS ARE EDUCATED AND PUT
THE INTERESTS OF
THE NATION ABOVE ALL OTHER CONSIDERATIONS IN ORDER
TO HAVE A STABLE
AND STRONG BAHRAIN.
SHAIKH KHALIFA SAID THAT HE WORKS ALONGSIDE HM
KING HAMAD BIN ISA
AL KHALIFA FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE KINGDOM AND TO
ENSURE NOTHING HARMS
THE SECURITY AND STABILITY OF THE COUNTRY.
ABOUT THE MEDIA IN BAHRAIN, SHAIKH KHALIFA SAID
THERE WAS AN OPEN
AND FREE MEDIA IN THE KINGDOM PERFORMING ITS ROLE
WITHIN THE LAWS OF
THE LAND.
THE PRIME MINISTER SAID THAT HE TRUSTED THE SENSE OF
RESPONSIBILITY
OF THE BAHRAINI MEDIA IN DEDICATING ITS ABILITIES TO
PROMOTE NATIONAL
UNITY AND HIGHLIGHT THE CIVILISED ASPECTS OF BAHRAIN.
SHAIKH KHALIFA APPRECIATED THE NATIONAL ROLE OF THE
PRESS AND
WELCOMED CONSTRUCTIVE AND OBJECTIVE CRITICISM.
HE SAID THAT MINISTRIES AND OTHER GOVERNMENT
ORGANISATIONS HAD BEEN
INSTRUCTED TO INTERACT WITH THE LOCAL PRESS OVER
THE ISSUES TACKLED BY
IT SUCH AS THE PROBLEMS FACED BY CITIZENS WHEN
DEALING WITH
OFFICIAL BODIES.
HE ALSO SAID THAT THE DEEP-ROOTED TIES BETWEEN
BAHRAIN AND THE UAE
WERE WITNESSING CONSTANT DEVELOPMENT IN ALL FIELDS.
THEY ARE CONTINUOUSLY ENHANCED BY HIS MAJESTY KING
HAMAD AND UAE
PRESIDENT SHAIKH KHALIFA BIN ZAYED AL NAHYAN, HE
SAID.
THE TWO COUNTRIES' BILATERAL TIES ARE AN ADVANCED
MODEL FOR
OUTSTANDING RELATIONS BETWEEN COUNTRIES AS THEY
COVER MANY DIMENSIONS,
MAINLY THE EXPANDING ECONOMIC COOPERATION, HE SAID.
THE PRIME MINISTER SAID BAHRAIN WAS INVOLVED IN
MANY MAJOR JOINT
PROJECTS IN THE FIELDS OF ENERGY, BANKING, COMMERCE
AND LABOUR,
WHETHER ON A BILATERAL LEVEL OR ON A GCC LEVEL.
HE HOPED THIS COOPERATION COULD BE EXTENDED TO NEW
AND MORE DIVERSE
FIELDS.
ON THE COOPERATION BETWEEN GCC STATES, THE PRIME
MINISTER AFFIRMED
THAT THEY ARE ONE ENTITY AND THAT INTEGRATION IS
THEIR STRATEGIC
CHOICE FOR DEALING WITH THE FUTURE.
FOR THAT, THEY HAVE AGREED ON A NUMBER OF FINANCIAL
CRITERIA IN
PREPARATION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE GCC UNIFIED
CURRENCY BY 2010, HE
SAID.
SHAIKH KHALIFA HOPED THAT THE DECISION OF SOME GCC
COUNTRIES NOT TO
JOIN THE UNIFIED CURRENCY BY THE SCHEDULED DATE OR
TO REVIEW THE PLANS
RELATED TO IT WOULD NOT DELAY ITS INTRODUCTION.
ABOUT THE KINGDOM'S STANCE IN THIS REGARD, THE PRIME
MINISTER SAID
BAHRAIN IS COMMITTED TO ALL GCC RESOLUTIONS AND
ALWAYS ACTIVATES ALL
PROCEDURES TO ACHIEVE GULF INTEGRATION IN DIFFERENT
FIELDS.
HE SAID THAT THE CURRENT SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST
CALLED FOR THE
ARAB COUNTRIES TO TAKE A HISTORIC INITIATIVE FOR A JUST
PEACE TO END
THE STRUGGLE WITH ISRAEL.
HE WARNED THAT THE HINDRANCE TO THE PEACE PROCESS
AND THE ISRAELI
POLICIES AGAINST THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE COULD LEAD TO
AN ESCALATION OF
TENSION, VIOLENCE AND INSTABILITY IN THE REGION.
SHAIKH KHALIFA SAID THAT THE SITUATION IN IRAQ ALSO
MIGHT LEAD TO
A DIVISION OF THE COUNTRY AND ERUPTION OF
SECTARIANISM. HE ASSERTED
THAT THERE WAS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SUNNIS AND SHIAS
AND THAT ANY
DIFFERENCES AMONG THEM WOULD BE THE BEGINNING OF THE
DIVISION OF IRAQ.
SHAIKH KHALIFA SAID THAT THE ONLY SOLUTION FOR IRAQ
WAS FOR
EVERYONE TO RESPECT ITS UNITY, SOVEREIGNTY AND
INDEPENDENCE.
THE PRIME MINISTER ADDED THAT THERE HAD TO BE A
PEACEFUL SOLUTION
TO THE IRANIAN NUCLEAR CRISIS, ADDING THAT THE REGION
MUST BE FREE OF
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. HE SAID THAT THE GCC
STATES HAD THE RIGHT
TO HAVE NUCLEAR POWER FOR PEACEFUL MEANS AND THAT
OUR MAJOR
RESPONSIBILITY IS TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRIES AND PEOPLES.
EM// BS
24-JUN-2007 12:28
NNNN
