(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat -
Dr Khalid bin Salim al Saidi, secretary general of the State Council, in a statement affirmed that since the initiation of the Blessed Renaissance 49 years ago, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has resolutely enabled the strengthening of the pillars of national unity to make it the mainstay of the development endeavours and the springboard for national progress.
He pointed out that His Majesty the Sultan has worked arduously to establish the pillars of the state institutions and law, to uphold its spirit, consolidate the values of justice, equality, security and create an atmosphere of peace and tolerance in the nation.
Shura is one of the pillars of the state institutions from the outset of renaissance and it has evolved confidently, achieving noble goals guided by His Majesty the Sultan's wise vision.
Dr Khalid bin Salim al Saidi, secretary general of the State Council
Dr Saidi added that the high interest to involve citizens in decision-making has led to the significant development of Shura, strengthened institutional practice and integrated them in the process of achieving development goals and national progress.
In addition, the evolution of Shura resulted in the adoption of the bicameral system, which includes the State Council and Majlis A'Shura under the umbrella of the Council of Oman.
He said, 'Since its establishment two decades back, the State Council has been an active partner of Shura, having to its credit substantial achievements, work and activities. It plays a vital role in national development through the exercise of its functions, powers and terms of reference as an effective legislative and supervisory institution.'
As the seventh term approaches, the council looks forward with immense aspirations to augment its contribution to national work within the framework of state institutions and law and in the context of integration with other state entities.
The secretary general pointed out that in response to the Royal Directive of His Majesty the Sultan, the council concluded its fourth annual session of the sixth period on July 14.
He reviewed with gratification the most noteworthy draft laws, proposals and studies discussed and approved by the council during the fourth annual session, including the draft laws discussed by the council and referred to it by the Council of Ministers.
They include the draft law 'Regulating the practice of medical profession and allied medical professions', the draft 'The Statistics and Information Law', 'the draft of Unified Law regulating the activity of companies and private institutions working in the field of urgent mail and parcels to the GCC States,'draft laws of 'Bankruptcy', 'Foreign capital investment', 'Privatisation' and 'Public and Private Sectors',including laws discussed by the council and proposed by Majlis A'Shura and draft amendment to some articles of the Tender Board Law, Patient Rights and Safety and the draft law of Wastewater Management, Treatment and Reuse.
Dr Saidi stated that with regard to the proposals and studies submitted by the council's committees, it approved 12 and referred them to the Council of Ministers namely, the proposal of 'Protection of children from accidents', the study of the 'Promotion of mineral wealth', 'the role of Omani drama in society (theatre) model', 'Draft provisions on draft laws submitted by the Council of Oman', '
Language policies of the sultanate, its realities, challenges and mechanisms for development', the study of the 'review of land laws of Oman', the proposal of 'integration of the standard of living and productivity', the proposal of 'organising advertising', 'development of the training system aligned with education', the proposal 'the reality of the services provided by sports clubs and ways to use them to serve the community', the proposal 'law to regulate the uses of biotechnology and its products and the protection of genetic data in Oman' and the proposal of the '
Framework and Determinants of the Public Debt Law'.
The secretary general stated that the sixth term (2015-19) of the council was intensively active and the discussions focused on more than 20 new or amended draft laws referred by the Council of Ministers, and seven proposed projects from the Council of Oman, 23 proposals and studies performed by committees, in addition to four state budgets and the ninth five-year development plan.
He noted the level of coordination and integration between the State Council and Majlis A'Shura and it involved several coordination meetings of committees to discuss work topics of both councils to ensure integration and enhance their role in serving the nation.
Developing cooperation
The secretary general highlighted the council's keenness to activate strong relations with other parliaments as it realises the value of fortifying cooperation and building bridges of communication with other countries.
During the fourth session, the council received delegations from counterpart councils. They included delegations accompanying Dr Muhammad Hidayat Nour Wahid, vice chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly of Indonesia; Czech Senate president, Jaroslav Kubera; Lord Geoffrey James Dear, deputy speaker of the House of Lords and Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani, chairman of the Pakistan Senate.
The guests also included, the Atlantic Council delegation headed by Stephen John Hadley, former US National Security advisor and executive vice president of the Atlantic Council, David McAllister, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament;Gabriela Cuevas Barron, president of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU);Lord Geoffrey James Dear, deputy speaker of the House of Lords; Korean-Omani Parliamentary Friendship Group headed by Youn Seung Hyun; delegation representing the International Conference on Judicial Protection of Intellectual Property and Sustainable Economic Development; Ahn Gyu-Back, chairman of the National Defence Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea in the Korean National Assembly; Dr Mishaal bin Fahm al Salami, speaker of the Arab Parliament and Michal Seweryns kim, senator from Polish Senate.
In addition, the council received French Senator Jean-Marie Bockel, vice chairman of French Senate's Friendship Committee of Gulf Countries and France,delegation of the Center for American Progress and the delegation of the Board of Directors of Occidental Petroleum Corporation headed by the chairman of the Board of directors, Eugene L Batchelder and a German youth parliamentary delegation.
The State Council chairman, H E Dr Yahya bin Mahfoudh al Mantheri visited Sudan, Russia and the UK to further strengthening of relations.
Dr Saidi confirmed that the council has participated actively in various regional and international parliamentary forums, including meetings of the Arab Parliament and the Inter-Parliamentary Union. The council participated in the third session of the second legislative session of the Arab Parliament, through participation in the meetings of the Foreign Affairs, Political and National Security Committee and the Committee of Social, Educational, Cultural Affairs, Women and Youth.
He stated that State Council's five Friendship committees advance cooperation with their counterparts to promoteongoing dialogue and enhance parliamentary diplomacy at a global and bilateral level.
The council received delegations of Oman-Pakistan Friendship Committee and Oman-Poland Friendship Committee and the delegation representing the Omani side of the Oman-Moroccan Friendship Committee visited Morocco.
The council also participated in the 140th assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and its accompanying events, held in April in Doha.
In addition, it participated in the World Conference of Women Parliamentarians in London and the World Youth Forum organised by the United Nations Economic and Social Council in New York.
Dr Saidi added that the council, in line with its support to joint Arab action, hosted the ceremony to announce the publication of the Arab document for the protection and development of the Arab environment prepared by the Arab Parliament.
A paradigm shift
Regarding competence upgrading, Dr Saidi stated that the council had conducted several training programmes for its employees to promote skill development, in addition to granting scholarships to employees to complete their university and higher studies.
He pointed out that many research reports were documented, which the council's honourable members use as reference in the study of draft laws and topics, which reflects positively on the work of the council.
Dr Saidi stated that the council intensified its media coverage through the publication of its magazines 'Shurufat' and 'Comprehensive Report'.
The council's social media platforms also heightened interactive sharing of information relating to its activities regionally and globally.
He added that the council recently celebrated the launch of its new brand identity, to accentuate its commitment toimplementing constant development of its facilities. This supports the council's vision and mission of promoting overall national development process through the activation of the council's role in legislative and supervisory practices. This, he said, would lead to building of community and institutional partnership, enhance identity and values and facilitate the council's contribution during the next phase, consolidate its positive image through the digital medium, and enhance its visibility.
The council's new portal with its advanced features will enable digital interactions and is a distinctive interface and an integrated and pioneering electronic platform at the local and regional level that facilitates global cohesiveness. It also facilitates continual improvement in the services provided to the honourable members, the council and visitors to the portal from varied segments of society regionally and globally.
The new brand identity and website reflects the council's noble goals and objectives, vested in it to promote its mission, highlight its work and activities, and contributes to the consolidation of the Shura culture in our community.
Connect and share
The secretary general said that the council has validated its keenness to connect with the community by organising seminars that address community issues, participated in national events and exhibitions held in various provinces of Oman.
In this context, the council organised an open day for the Omani media and a meeting of editors of local newspapers and electronic news sites with the aim of strengthening cooperation, as the council places high importance on dissemination of authentic and appropriate information about its activities.
The council received delegations from more than 40 schools, colleges and institutions during its fourth annual session of the sixth period.
The secretary general concluded his statement by expressing utmost thanks and gratitude to His Majesty the Sultan's generous patronage of the Shura march in the sultanate, which has yielded unprecedented development, as reflected by all areas of the sultanate.
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