MANAMA: His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa reiterated Bahrain’s support for creation on an independent Palestinian State with Al Quds as its Capital.
“The Palestinian cause will remain our main cause And we affirm the importance of finding a just, lasting and comprehensive solution to ensure the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people for the establishment of an independent Palestinian State with Al Quds as its capital,” HM King told the inaugural ceremony of the joint 4th term of parliament.
HM King 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 Premier, the opening of the first session of the fourth legislative term of the National Assembly.
Upon HM the King’s arrival at the Isa Cultural Centre, the national anthem was played.
HM the King headed to the Grand Conference Hall, where some Holy Quran verses were recited.
Then, HM King Hamad delivered a keynote speech during the session.
HM the King called for the need to exert more efforts to “achieve our ambitions in developing all the sectors that are in the service of the citizens.”
HM the King stressed that the “top priority at this phase is the achievement of sustainable development and pushing forward the economy of Bahrain towards further progress and growth, relying in this operation on multiple sectors, which will make our economy more steady, enduring and capable to confront the effects of the economic crises the world is going through.”
HM King Hamad also congratulated members of the Representatives Council for having won “the trust of the honourable citizens,” expressing “immense pride over the awareness and sense of responsibility that has been embodied in the vast popular participation in the parliamentary and municipal elections, which have run in an atmosphere of solidarity and authentic democratic practice.”
HM the King wished the members of the National Assembly every success in “serving Bahrain and its honourable citizens.”
HM the King extended sincere thanks and appreciation to His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, and the affiliates of the Bahrain Defence Force, Public Security and National Guard.
HM King Hamad also thanked “everyone who were responsible for organizing or supervising the parliamentary and municipal elections, with full capability, especially the honorable members of the judiciary,” as well as “those who have exercised their rights, either as candidates or as voters, within the national spirit.”
HM the King underlined the importance of the National Action Charter as “an historical document, agreed upon by the citizens of Bahrain” that “has involved numerous reforms, in all life areas in our country and reinforced Bahrain’s high global reputation.”
HM the King pointed out that the landmark reforms that resulted from the National Action Charter have “consolidated the feelings of citizenship and belonging, through the citizens’ exercise of their political rights, with full confidence And their representatives did their best in developing and proposing many laws that are in effect today.”
HM the King stressed the importance of “the principle of separation of powers, with cooperation among them, also has to be taken into account; it is stipulated by the Constitution.”
HM King Hamad asserted that Bahrain has achieved a lot through the National Dialogue, which he described as “a significant addition to the path of our blessed march, and confirms, at the same time, our definite desire to attain qualitative partnership in political work through the blessed march.”
HM the King affirmed the need to carry on “earnest efforts to achieve our ambitions in developing all the sectors,” especially education and health sectors which “constitute an essential pier for human development,” stressing the importance of exerting more efforts to achieve the “the housing project that consists of 40,000 housing units within the time limit and development of the remaining public services.”
HM King Hamad also hailed the achievements of Bahraini “youth in all practical and development fields as well as in arts, literature and sports, valuing the advanced international prizes they have gained at global gatherings,” calling for the need to “focus on the role of this nation’s youth, who constitute a large part of the population, and concentrate on the better future they aspired to achieve.”
HM the King reiterated the Kingdom’s constant keenness on “pushing forward the Gulf Cooperation Council march in order to achieve further integration and heading seriously towards union.”
HM the King said that the present situation requires Arab countries to join ranks and “overcome any differences to maintain the Arab entity as an effective regional power under the umbrella of the Arab league.”