His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa has extended warmest congratulations to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on being conferred the Arab Tourism Medal – Excellent Class, the highest distinction bestowed to kings, princes and presidents, by the Arab Tourism Organisation (ATO).
HRH Premier lauded the richly-deserved Arab hounouring bestowed on HM King Hamad in recognition of the pioneering landmark tourism achievements attained by the kingdom during HM the King’s prosperous era, which strengthened the role of the tourism sector as a main tributary to the national economy, and enhanced Bahrain’s role and standing in the Arab tourism industry. Chairing the regular weekly Cabinet session, at Gudaibiya Palace today, the Prime Minister praised the royal support for the government’s plans and programmes in the tourism sector, including the completed tourism projects and those which will be implemented in the future. HRH Premier highlighted the importance of the forums and specialised exhibitions in supporting and developing professional sectors, both at the national and regional levels, including the 21st Gulf Engineering Forum, held under his patronage, and opened on his behalf by Deputy Premier, Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, a statement by the Cabinet Secretary-General, Dr Yasser bin Isa Al-Nasser, also said. The session, while reviewing the recently-issued Real Estate Sector’s Regulatory Law 27/2017, which stipulates determining the categories of fees due on services, applications and licenses delivered in accordance with its provisions, decided not to impose any new fees, and to keep unchanged the current fees provided in accordance with the Real Estate Development Law 28/2014 and Edict 99/2015, issued by the Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning. The Cabinet also kept unchanged the fees imposed on the issuance of licenses to practise the auctioneering profession in real estates, in line with Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Minister’s Edict 56/2016, and in accordance with the recommendation of the Board of Directors of the Real Estate Regulatory Authority. The session approved a draft-law on amending the Court of Cassation Law, promulgated by Decree-Law 8/1989. Under the amendment, in line with the provisions of the Family Law, all verdicts can be challenged at the Court of Cassation in all civil and Sharia cases, whatever the court that issued them is. The session decided to refer the bill to the legislative branch, as recommended by the Ministerial Committee on Legal Affairs, and highlighted in the memorandum presented by the Deputy Prime Minister and the committee chairman. The Cabinet discussed a new draft-law on international crimes, which defines the international crimes that are examined by the courts of Bahrain, namely genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression. The draft-law is in line with Bahrain’s keenness to ensure that its judicial system is consistent with international humanitarian law emanating from the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols. The memorandum submitted by the Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Minister in this regard, was referred to the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs. The session discussed the Kingdom’s accession to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), within the framework of the government’s keenness to cooperate with the international community to combat the negative changes in the ecosystem in order to preserve nature and biodiversity and address global environmental issues. The memorandum, presented by the Minister of Cabinet Affairs, was also referred to the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs. The session endorsed an Air Transport Agreement and seven memoranda of understanding between Bahrain and Morocco in the fields of political consultation, media and communication cooperation, youth and sports, work and employment, social insurance and cooperation between Bahrain News Agency (BNA) and its Moroccan counterpart, MAP, as well as cooperation between the Institute of Diplomacy in Bahrain and the Academy of Diplomatic Studies. The Cabinet mandated the Minister of Foreign Affairs to sign them on behalf of the Kingdom after the examination of their legal aspects by the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs. The session also discussed the opening of a regional centre for the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) to cover its work in the Middle East and North Africa. The memorandum submitted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs in this regard was also referred to the Ministerial Committee on Legal Affairs. The session mandated the Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications to sign the Kingdom’s accession to the Outer Space Treaty, formally the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies. The minister was also authorised to sign Bahrain’s accession to the Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects. The convention stipulates that a launching State shall be absolutely liable to pay compensation for damage caused by its space objects on the surface of the Earth or to aircraft and liable for damage due to its faults in space. The Cabinet approved two proposals submitted by the Council of Representatives on the Safra Youth, Cultural and Sports Centre and Al-Areen Wildlife Park and Reserve. The session approved the government’s replies to the two proposals, as recommended by the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs.