HM King inaugurates third-year sessions of fifth legislative term

Manama, Oct. 11 (BNA): His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa today patronized the inauguration of the third-year sessions of the fifth legislative term. The inauguration ceremony was held virtually at the Sakhir Palace and was attended, also online, by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister. HM the King’s Personal Representative His Highness Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, HM the King’s representative for Humanitarian Works and Youth Affairs, National Security Advisor and President of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa and Royal Court Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa also attended the ceremony alongside HM the King. Council of Representatives Speaker Fawzia bint Abdullah Zainal, Shura Council Chairman Ali bin Abdullah Saleh, Parliament Affairs Minister Ghanem bin Fadhl Al Buainain and the members of the bicameral parliament attended the ceremony remotely. Following a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, HM the King delivered his address to the parliament. Hereafter is a translation of the address: “In the name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful Praise be to God, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of God, Mohammed, his kin, and companions. Brothers and sisters, Distinguished Members of the Parliament Peace, and God’s mercy and blessings be upon you We are pleased to meet with you through this video session to inaugurate, with the help of God, the third-year sessions of your esteemed Parliament in its current legislative term. We wish you, at the outset of this new stage of the reform and modernization process, further success on building on our past achievements and greater accomplishments in assuming your national and constitutional responsibilities to protect the nation’s highest interests and to achieve the objectives associated with this prominent national service. This is a good opportunity to renew the sentiment of pride with the honorable level throughout the stages of work in combating the virus pandemic, led in all its comprehensive stages by our dear son, and our loyal Crown Prince, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. He aptly carried this huge responsibility on our behalf and as we ordered and directed. We are not making an overstatement when we say that the “Bahraini model” in facing this health crisis has achieved a “global reputation and a leading position,” whose importance and influence are on par with the international best standards. We have been dazzled by the strength of the national resolve that the honorable citizens have demonstrated in the face of this hardship that we hope will disappear promptly with renewed determination to continue adhering to the precautionary measures and following the instructions of the Bahrain Medical Taskforce. Such shrewd handling of the challenges imposed by the current situation comes as a logical outcome of the readiness of our esteemed government with its robust administrative organizations and its flexible and effective policies, headed by His Royal Highness, our dear uncle, Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa. All essential services continued to reach every home and institution, especially work and education services through virtual platforms, which is an experience that we must develop as we move towards acquiring the knowledge and technologies of future sciences. Our national ambition to excel in many advanced sciences, such as space science, with its scientific and environmental benefits and atomic energy sciences with its peaceful uses for the service of humanity, is soaring higher as we aim to empower our generations to progress further professionally through scientific and knowledge advances. As part of the blessed efforts during the health crisis, everyone gratefully supported the national campaign "Fina Khair" that considered the humanitarian conditions of the community without sidelining the needs of many residents. Out of our keenness to respond gratefully to this humanitarian drive, and in order to strengthen Bahrain's position in the health sector, we direct the competent authorities to establish a hospital and a center specializing in infectious diseases and well equipped to deal with health challenges nationally and regionally, provided that the names of all the supporters of the "Fina Khair" campaign are cited in a monument in appreciation of their stances that reflected the genuine character of the people of Bahrain in times of hardships and crises. In this context, we stress the need to develop plans to achieve health security by continuing to provide the best medical services and with capabilities and expertise that anticipate health risks through prevention ahead of treatment. At the forefront of our next action priorities is the rapid recovery of our national economy in cooperation with the private sector by adopting solutions and initiatives consistent with the requirements of the circumstance and for the return of positive rates of national development in line with the aspirations of the Bahrain Economic Vision 2030. Based on our belief that our achieving and ambitious young Bahraini sons and daughters are the source of our wealth and our sure asset for the promising future, we have made the issue of empowering the youth a national priority to stimulate their effective participation as a work and building force that contributes to the positive development and progress of our nation in accordance with the goals of sustainable development, with genuine responsibility and true equality. In this regard, we direct the executive branch, and within its regulations, to establish a fund that invests and supports the energies, ambitions and innovations of Bahraini youth to create and own businesses and companies to serve their community, improve their income and support promising opportunities to reap the fruits of their efforts. We have ordered, in this regard, our representative for humanitarian works and youth affairs, our dear son, His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, to follow up on the establishment of the fund and supervise its work. We aspire that this promising project will receive the attention and cooperation of the legislative branch so that it achieves its goals on the path to success and achievement. In the same context, we call on public and private investment institutions to direct their capital to developmental areas with added value. The health crisis has proven the importance and feasibility of developing these areas, such as the field of digital transformation and investment in the medical sector and securing food sufficiency. They are a priority that calls for maximum cooperation and coordination between the legislative and executive branches. In order to achieve the desired success, the economic development processes must take into account the environmental variables and their various challenges, including global warming and rising sea levels. We direct the specialists in this field to develop appropriate recommendations to remedy impacts on our local environment and reduce their risks by implementing the latest programs in the fields of air cooling and coastal protection from rising sea levels. Ladies and Gentlemen, These emergency developments will not steer us away from pursuing our commitments to our regional issues and our international relations, and we will continue to maintain our security based on the principles of good neighborliness and to extend a hand of cooperation to immunize our societies from extremism and terrorism and thwart their threats to stability and prosperity. We reaffirm that fixing the foundations of a comprehensive and just peace in the region depends on activating the Arab Initiative that we are working to support by all means with our brothers and allies, and this is a declared and clear position for us in the Kingdom of Bahrain towards the Palestinian cause to reach a two-state solution in order to enhance security and world peace. In this respect, we appreciate the very important national responsibilities that our valiant armed defense and security forces undertake, characterized by professionalism and high efficiency. From this podium, we single them out with sincere greetings and great appreciation as they protect the country and maintain its unity and stability. In view of the remarkable achievements in Bahrain and the high patriotic enthusiasm of its honorable sons and daughters, we are particularly proud of our dear country and of its loyal citizens who have set the finest examples of dedication and devotion to the nation. We are fully convinced that the blessing of this kind of cohesion is the best way to repel those with ill intentions. This is what has enabled us, praise be to God, to achieve wellbeing and progress, and to earn global respect. We also extend our appreciation to all state institutions that have worked hard to achieve our aspirations for the greater prosperity, development, and progress that we expressed in our speech at last year’s inaugural session. We thank them for their diligence and for the good follow-up and speed of implementation. Based on our responsibility and commitment towards meeting the needs of the homeland and its honorable citizens and fulfilling their aspirations towards a brighter future, we affirm our keenness to accelerate our development steps to enrich the national advancement. We are also keen on providing this forward-looking movement with the appropriate means to support and strengthen it to cross over and overcome the effects of the pandemic, with the Almighty’s assistance, just like our country has over time moved well beyond the most delicate stages and the most severe crises. In conclusion, we reiterate our best wishes to all our virus-hit patients of a speedy recovery and to pray the Almighty to grant the souls of those who have passed away during this pandemic mercy and forgiveness. Thank you for your kind attention, and may God’s peace, mercy and blessings be upon you.”