Cabinet: Severing ties with Qatar was necessary

His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa has lauded the humanitarian dimension and noble goals of the “Isa Award for Service to Humanity”.
His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s support for the Isa Award has contributed to its success, he said, stressing that the award has strengthened Bahrain’s role and standing in promoting the humanitarian work culture and in highlighting role models in this noble field.
HRH the Prime Minister affirmed that the Isa Award commemorates a dear name and a cherished leader whose effective contributions to serving humanity will always be remembered.
The Prime Minister congratulated the Children Cancer Hospital Egypt (CCHE) for winning the third edition of the Isa Award for Service to Humanity (2015-2017), and commended the tremendous efforts exerted by the Award’s Board of Trustees, chaired by Deputy Premier, HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, as well as those of its jury.
HRH Premier was speaking as he chaired the regular weekly Cabinet session at the Gudaibiya Palace today.
The Cabinet was informed about HRH the Prime Minister’s talks with the Kuwaiti Amir, HH Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah, during his recent brotherly visit to the State of Kuwait.
The session lauded the depth of the solid long-standing Bahraini-Kuwaiti relations, and highlighted the importance of the Premier’s visit in developing bilateral cooperation and enhancing joint Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) action, Cabinet Secretary-General Dr. Yasser bin Isa Al-Nasser said in a post-session statement.
The Cabinet also welcomed the State of Kuwait’s election as a non-Permanent Member on the UN Security Council (UNSC), noting that the exploit is the outcome of the leading role played by Kuwait under the leadership of HH Amir Sabah and its high-level diplomacy.
The UNSC seat is a landmark achievement for both Kuwaiti and the GCC, and will contribute to serving the region’s issues and consolidating its security and stability, the session said.
The Cabinet affirmed that the decisions taken by Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates Egypt and a number of brotherly and friendly countries on severing relations with Qatar were necessary, and reflected the coordinated stances of those countries to maintain their security and stability, safeguard their sovereignty, fend off threats and protect their peoples.
The Cabinet instructed all relevant ministries and state departments to take all necessary procedures to implement the decisions related to cutting off relations with the State of Qatar.
On development issues, HRH the Prime Minister gave directives to the Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning and the Minister of Housing to visit Duraz and neighbouring villages and identify their needs for services and facilities to complete them. The ministers were also requested to meet the local villagers to listen to them and collect first-hand information about their needs concerning development services within a secure and stable atmosphere.
HRH the Prime Minister also gave instructions to open the vital traffic conjunctions, including those in the capital, for the traffic after the completion of the revamp works, and tasked the Interior and Works ministers to oversee the matter.
HRH the Prime Minister congratulated the students who obtained their Secondary School Certificates and wished them success in their future academic and professional life, praising the efforts exerted by the teaching and administrative staff.
The Prime Minister was commenting on the report presented by the Education Minister in which he highlighted the positive results attained by the students as reflected by the increasing number of top-scoring students at the general and technical secondary school certificates.
Commenting on the citizens’ remarks, the Prime Minister directed for avoiding any electricity or water cuts and instructed the Electricity and Water Affairs Minister to submit a report on the power outages in Hamad Town and other regions, including the causes and the measures taken by the ministry to avoid their recurrence.
HRH the Prime Minister requested the Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning to submit a memorandum on shrimp fishermen, which shall include options for preserving their livelihoods during the shrimp ban while taking into account the government's efforts to preserve wildlife and the relevant GCC resolutions.
The Cabinet commended the efforts and competence of the Saudi security authorities and their success in thwarting a terrorist attack through intercepting a vehicle laden with weapons and ammunition in the Qatif Province, which led to its explosion and death of those in it, reiterating Bahrain’s support and solidarity with Saudi Arabia and backing of the anti-terror measures it takes to maintain its security and stability.
The session also condemned the terror attacks that rocked the city of London and targeted innocent lives, and reaffirmed the Kingdom’s support to friendly UK and backing in confronting terrorism resolutely,. The session extended condolences to the relatives of the victims.
The Cabinet reviewed the recommendations of the Ministerial Committee for Financial Affairs and Rationalising Expenditure, highlighted in the a memorandum presented by the Deputy Premier and committee chairman, and another by the Minister of Finance, regarding the State Budget for the two fiscal years, 2017 and 2018.
The session approved the estimates of the budget, the fiscal policies, the estimated oil and non-oil revenues, spending and expected deficit, and requested the Ministerial Committee for Financial Affairs and Rationalising Expenditure to continue preparing the state budget draft-law ahead of referring it to the parliament.
The session also discussed a memorandum submitted by the Cabinet Affairs Minister on renewing the agreement on establishing the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage. The memorandum was referred to the Ministerial Committee for Financial Affairs and Rationalising Expenditure.
The Cabinet endorsed a draft-law, proposed by the Council of Representatives, on amending the Sharia Courts’ Procedures law, and the government’s reply.
Under the amendment, cases will be cancelled altogether 60 days after they are lodged instead of six months, as explained in the memorandum presented by the Deputy Premier and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs.
The session also approved, based on a recommendation by the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs, the government’s replies to two proposals submitted by the Council of Representatives regarding the construction of a pedestrian bridge near Al-Hidaya Al-Khalifiya School, and the establishment of a Rainwater Drainage Directorate.

Source: BNA