HM King opens fourth session of fourth legislative term

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa patronised , in the presence of His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, the opening of the fourth session of the Fourth Legislative Term, at the Isa Cultural Centre today.

Upon arrival of the Royal motorcade to the Isa Cultural Centre, escorted by Police Cavalry, HM King Hamad was welcomed by the Speaker of the Council of Representatives, Ahmed bin Ibrahim Al-Mulla and Chairman of the Shura Council, Ali bin Saleh Al-Saleh.

The Royal Anthem was played, and then HM the King headed to the Grand Conference Hall of the Isa Cultural Centre, where verses from the Holy Quran were recited.

Then, HM the King delivered the following keynote speech:

"In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate

"Praise to God, Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad, his family and companions,

"Brothers and sisters, distinguished Members of the National Assembly,

"Peace, mercy and blessings of God,

"God willing, we will open the proceedings of the Final Session of the National Assembly, in its fourth legislative term, which through its responsibility and capability, was able to be the best asset to the National Action process, with all its firm constitutional foundations agreed upon by our loyal people, with unprecedented free will, to mark an important historical start, through which the bases of the modern civil state have been founded on the rule of law and institutions, separation of powers and popular participation in decision making. This has allowed our comprehensive national renaissance to remain committed to achieving a promising vision that never deviates from the development of the nation and the welfare of its citizens.

"Honorable members,

"The requirements of reform and development in our changing world, with its opportunities and challenges, call for a clear vision to ensure a smooth development process. On this level, the Kingdom of Bahrain has been able to meet these requirements, proceeding from our comprehensive national project, from which stems Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030 and its principles which instill justice, competitiveness and sustainability to attain leadership in performance and achievement.

"Through the optimal employment of plans and programs, the Vision has diligently sought to reinforce the performance of the various development sectors, to create an investment climate that attracts capital, and to foster a clear policy to diversify the sources of income in the national economy, without neglecting to develop the resources of Bahraini families that are the pillar of our national development.

"We would like stress here that Bahraini citizens will always remain the focus of our development. Bahraini skills and expertise have demonstrated their worth and ability to excel in various fields of work, requiring the concerned authorities to continue improving programs for developing our human resources and preparing young leaders, enabling them to take the appropriate path to integrate into the labor market and contribute to nation building.

"In this context, we take pride in the honorable achievements of the people of Bahrain at international forums, which embody their true attachment to and love for this blessed land, the cradle of civilization and the spring of good and prosperity.

"Honorable members,

"Our esteemed Government, led by our dear uncle, His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, is playing its role and assuming its national responsibilities with all sincerity and dedication to follow up on the implementation of the Kingdom of Bahrain’s development policies, at the forefront of which is the Government Action Plan which has already been able to exceed the required performance rate, and to work on increasing the efficiency of programs and services in support of economic growth and those offered to citizens, with the focus on policies that enhance the role of the private sector as a main driver of economic growth.

"We commend here the results of the housing plans which, in line with our directives, have committed to distributing forty thousand housing units to Bahraini families and building five new residential cities.

"As part of the esteemed Government's efforts to strengthen the country's financial and economic capacity, we direct that the necessary steps be taken to achieve balance between expenditures and public revenues, and to increase oil and non-oil revenues in order to attain financial sustainability, consistent with the country's policies to diversify the economy.

"Brothers and Sisters,

"The legislature, within its extensive legislative and supervisory powers, and in the context of productive and constructive cooperation with the executive, has been able to be the best support to developing the national legislative system and increasing the efficiency of government services.

"We would like to commend, here, the advanced laws that have been put in place to regulate the financial, commercial, real estate and investment sectors, and to approve the state budget and follow up on its implementation.

"This has reflected positively on the economic and investment environment in a manner that is consistent with the policies and plans of the institutions concerned, especially the Economic Development Board, led by our dear son, the Crown Prince, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, leading Bahrain to achieve remarkable results in terms of economic freedom and development of the information and communications sector.

"We also applaud the initiatives of the legislature which aim to boost the level of social stability, among the most important of which is the Family Law, that came in the form of a consensus and unified formula stemming from the provisions of the Islamic Sharia’a, and in support of the tremendous attention the Kingdom of Bahrain accords to the status of the Bahraini family in general, and women in particular, who deserve all respect.

"It is a matter of pride that Bahraini women today exceed the traditional stages of empowerment to reach the higher status they now enjoy, as they represent a high percentage of the country’s public and private sector employees. We regard this achievement as a source of national pride that we should all cherish.

"With God’s help, the wheels of careful and well-thought development of the state’s legislative, executive and judicial branches will continue to turn non-stop, in consonance with the attributes and requirements of the National Action Charter.

"Honorable attendees,

"The Kingdom of Bahrain will remain, as it has always been known in the Arab world, faithful to its causes, protecting its security and defending its interests.

"It will mobilize all its military, security and diplomatic capabilities to confront any illegal interference and deal with any crises that aim to destabilize its Arab region.

"In this regard, we will continue our efforts in support of the legitimate rights of the brotherly Palestinian people to establish their independent State, with the Holy Quds as its capital, as a prerequisite for the establishment of security and stability in the region.

"The Kingdom of Bahrain affirms its adherence to the basic principles declared by the countries calling for the fight against terrorism and uncovering the supporters and funders of terrorism who adopt political agendas that aim to fabricate crises, divide ranks and threaten the security and stability of the region.

"In this context, we would like to thank our defense and security forces for their vigilance, wisdom, patience, dedication and sacrifice in preserving the security, sovereignty and stability of our dear Kingdom.

"Undoubtedly, the security and stability of Bahrain is always linked to the readiness and vigilance of its people to defend their social cohesion and national solidarity, based on the principles of coexistence, tolerance and pluralism.

"These values have shaped the features of our civilized society, which has always carried to the world its own vision on religious respect, peaceful coexistence and civilizational dialogue, the very thing that makes Bahrain’s voice heard and its position prestigious in terms of reinforcing and spreading peace and serving humanity.

"Finally, we reiterate our thanks to the members of the legislative and executive authorities, for the lofty national responsibility they shoulder, which places the interests of the nation and citizens at the top of its priorities, and makes innovation a guiding principle for our glorious national progress.

"Let us all live up to this pledge and be up to fulfil this trust.

"May God bless you all,

"Peace, mercy and blessings of God."

Then, Speaker of the Council of Representatives, Ahmed bin Ibrahim Al-Mulla, delivered the following speech:

"In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful

"Praise be to God, Peace and Blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, and on his family and companions.

"Your Majesty, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, may Allah protect you.

"His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister.

"His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander, First Deputy Prime Minister.

"Your Highnesses, Excellencies, distinguished guests.

"Peace, and Allah's mercy and blessings be upon you,

"I have the honor, Your Majesty, to stand before you on this blessed national day and to convey to your graced Highness, on my behalf and on behalf of my colleagues the members of the National Assembly, my sincerest thanks and appreciation for your generosity in honoring the opening ceremony of the final session of the fourth legislative term under the reform project of your Majesty. Continuing the process of national action, and raising the flames of democracy, towards a bright future. We are looking forward to the good and development of the nation in your glorious era, and we seek the help of the Almighty to act in accordance with your noble directives and we are committed to our national principles, that is exemplified in the National Charter Action and the Constitution, and with all determination, insistence, willpower and persistence to achieve all good for the benefit of the Kingdom of Bahrain and its future. We believe that the progress and development, under your reform project, can only be achieved through hard work. Bearing in mind, an oath and a pledge we made to ourselves, to be loyal to the homeland and to your majesty by defending the liberties, interests and money of the people. Our determination is steadfast, and our loyalty is absolute to Your Majesty and our dear Kingdom.

"Your loyal people, Your Majesty, has always been and remains an example of fraternity, harmony, coexistence and tolerance. Bahrain will always be a homeland for all, with all religions and races. The qualities of the Bahraini man will remain of goodness, authenticity, morally dignified generosity, well behavior, openness, loyalty to his leadership and his homeland, and this is his most distinctive features.

"It is the same qualities and values that we sustain from your majesty, and which was planted in us by your father and the father of all, His Royal Highness the late Amir, Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, may Allah have mercy on him, and the great grandfathers and your major pioneered initiatives in this field, the latest of which was the launch of the "King Hamad International Center for Dialogue between religions and Peaceful Coexistence", it is a Bahraini message, civilizational and humanitarian, to the world at large.

"Your Majesty,

"We are embarking on a new legislative session. I am honored to commend the most important achievements of the legislative and oversight work in the past period, for the benefit of the country and the citizens in all fields, where we were able, in sincere and fruitful cooperation with the government, to overcome all the challenges and turn them into opportunities and achievements and to work together to consolidate the state of institutions and law, and to promote citizenship and rights.

"Expressing our deep appreciation for the distinguished role played by the government under the leadership of His Royal Highness the Prime Minister, who had a great role in consolidating cooperation and joint participation between the legislative and executive authorities, in the interest of the Bahraini citizen, making it the focus of comprehensive development, and promoting popular participation in decision-making, according to free will, under the modern civil state, and further development of all services, including housing, education, health and social care.
I would also like to pay tribute to the outstanding role of the Economic Development Board, under the leadership of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander, First Deputy Prime Minister, in supporting the economy, increasing the state revenues and creating employment opportunities for the Bahraini youth in accordance with an ambitious economic vision that looks forward to the future and it works to create an appropriate environment to attract investments to the Kingdom.

"The Shura Council and the Council of Representatives have continued the process of building the civilizational legislative system through the adoption of the Family Law, which affirmed the pioneering Bahraini model in national unity, social cohesion and the importance of building the Bahraini family with its distinct identity.

"The general budget of the State was adopted, and it was your highness directive in safeguarding the rights of the citizens and not compromising it, has been greatly affected in moving towards achieving the optimal balance and equation in light of the exceptional economic challenges that the countries of the region are witnessing.

"The law of real estate development, which has played a prominent role in supporting the comprehensive development process, encouraging developers and investors, attracting investment projects, providing the best facilities and services under a modern legislative umbrella, has been adopted to increase and diversify the sources of income in accordance with the government action plan and Bahrain Economic Vision 2030.

"In light of our parliamentary responsibility to maintain the sovereignty, security and stability of the country, the constitutional amendment was adopted in regards to the amendment of some provisions of the Military Justice Law, especially in the light of terrorist threats, which provided all procedural safeguards and jurisdiction to the military judiciary by taking into account all human and constitutional rights.

"In order to activate the Bahraini parliamentary diplomacy, which is consistent with your Majesty's vision of foreign policy, the legislative authority has succeeded in obtaining its initiatives, support and endorsement from regional and international parliaments. Bahrain's positions have become pivotal and influential in the issues being discussed in these forums and based on that the members of the Shura Council and the Council of Representatives received high parliamentary positions, including: the presidency of the current session of the Gulf Legislatures, the Vice-President of the Arab Parliament, the Vice-President of the 24th Arab Parliamentary Union, Vice-President of the Asian Parliamentary Association, which is, in addition to the previous parliamentary positions, as a member of the Human Rights Committee of Parliamentarians in the Inter-Parliamentary Union and other prominent membership in the regional and international parliamentary unions and associations.

"Your Majesty,

"Everyone is well aware of the security and political developments in the region. We reaffirm our full support of your highness directives in the maintenance of national security and the cooperation with counterterrorism states to ensure the security and stability of the region and to demand the cessation of the support and financing of terrorism and its groups.

"We call upon the State of Qatar to return to the Gulf House, and the Arab Ranks, and to adhere to the bonds, the ties of closeness, the religion, the history, the common destiny and to implement the demands and in cooperation with the Iranian regime and other terrorist groups and it Constituted an unfortunate historical era, and the stabs of painful betrayal, from the brother against his brothers, that cracked the Gulf House, and affected the cohesion and indivisibility, that disobeyed the hopes of the guardians; the esteemed leaders, when they met to establish the Gulf Cooperation Council, had also opposed the principles of the GCC Charter, the respect for the sovereignty of states, the rules and principles of international law and non-interference in their internal affairs.

"In this context, we would like to record our deepest pride for the security and military services for their sacrifices and efforts in maintaining security and stability, mercy and forgiveness for the righteous martyrs in the fields of pride, dignity and honour.

"We also express our sincere appreciation to the fraternal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, for its hard efforts and sincere sacrifices for the benefit of the Arab and Islamic nations and to protect it from greed and conspiracies. Stressing our steadfast and historic position, in supporting the Palestinian cause, and reaching a just and comprehensive solution.

"Your Majesty,

"The role of the final session - which you opened today - will witness discussions of various projects, laws and proposals, and the follow-up of what has been implemented in the government action plan, and to work together for the homeland and citizens. We pledge your majesty to continue to accomplish and work with all dedication and sincerity, with increasing attention to the economic affairs, and the empowerment of Bahraini women, and to fully register the civilizational initiatives undertaken by the Supreme Council for Bahraini Women, headed by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, and the interest and support for the youth sector, especially the initiatives launched by His Royal Highness Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, His Majesty's Representative for Charity and Youth Affairs, the President of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports.

"In this context, I call upon all the loyal people of Bahrain, to strengthen our cohesion and solidarity, to support our leadership, to preserve our homeland, and to defend our achievements for the Kingdom of Bahrain, in light of the developments that the world is witnessing, It requires the unity of word and rank, and the promotion of the supreme interest of the nation, above all considerations and affiliations, while enhancing our confidence by your lofty guidance, and in dealing with reality with all national responsibility and honesty, and recalling that the Kingdom of Bahrain has always succeeded in overcoming all challenges with positive rhetoric to deal with issues and developments and to stand by any negative speeches or non-national calls aimed at undermining our Bahraini resolve. Declaring to the whole world that our democratic process continues at a steady pace, no matter how much the States that finance terrorism or the politicized human rights organizations try to block it.

"Finally, I would like to extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to His Excellency the Speaker of the Shura Council for the continuous cooperation and to all the sisters and brothers; members of the Shura Council and the Council of Representatives for their efforts to all supporting bodies and national media institutions for its role in supporting the national parliamentary work, for the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the future of the upcoming generations.

"May God bestow success on you and guide you along the path of common good

Peace and Allah's mercy and blessings be upon you."

Source: BNA