Legislative framework for arms pact mooted

The cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, at Gudaibiya palace yesterday called for devising a legislative framework for the agreements and conventions ratified by the kingdom in order to pave the way for honouring the obligations pertaining to the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, as well as chemical, biological and radioactive weapons.

The panel adopted the stance while reviewing the periodic report presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs on the meeting of the National Committee for the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction. The report and the recommendations featuring in it were referred to the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs.

The cabinet reiterated the kingdom’s keenness on implementing the Post-2015 Development Agenda, adopted by the UN Summit. It assigned the Ministerial Committee for Financial Affairs and Rationalising Expenditure to follow up on the policies, mechanisms and procedures of the ministries and government departments to ensure the kingdom’s steps to honour its obligations in this regard.

The cabinet session also strongly condemned the terrorist attack in a mosque in the city of Saihat in the province of Qatif, Saudi Arabia, last Friday, claiming innocent lives and injuring others.

Decisions and directives

In a statement following the session, Secretary-General of the cabinet Dr. Yaser bin Essa Al-Nasser said that HRH Premier had issued directives to give greater attention to the recreational facilities that serve the citizens, such as parks and public gardens, particularly in Galali in the Muharraq Governorate, through regular maintenance.

HRH Premier also instructed to follow up on the needs of schools and complete all their facilities and buildings, especially those with ready-made classrooms.

The cabinet approved, in principle, the application of the International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC 4) in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

In this regard, HRH the Prime Minister issued directives to coordinate with the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the competent Ministries and government departments before the final adoption of ISIC 4.

The cabinet discussed six proposals submitted by the Council of Representatives. They include a social centre for retirees in Isa Towns, a strategy for air crises management, providing shelter for victims during emergency cases in Muharraq, the Salmabad Junction, a health centre in Budaiya and a youth centre in the Southern Governorate’s eighth constituency.