Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa opens fourth legislative term

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa patronised today, 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HM the King underlined the importance of the National Action Charter as "an historical document, agreed upon by the citizens of Bahrain" that "has involved numerous reforms, in all life areas in our country and reinforced Bahrain’s high global reputation."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."
Below is the full text of HM the King's keynote address:
"Grace be to God and peace be upon his messenger Prophet Mohammed, and upon his family, companions and followers.
"Brothers and Sisters, the honorable members of the National Assembly,
"Peace and God’s blessings be upon you,
"With the blessings of God, We open this first session of the fourth legislative term of our National Assembly.
"We are pleased on this dear occasion to congratulate all of you for having won the trust of the honorable citizens, and we extend our thanks to all those who have exercised their rights, either as candidates or as voters, within the national spirit.
"We also express our 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.
"We pray to God Almighty to grant you success in your efforts in serving Bahrain and its honorable citizens.
"We also extend our thanks and appreciation to everyone who were responsible for organizing or supervising the parliamentary and municipal elections, with full capability, especially the honorable members of the judiciary.
"Brothers and Sisters,
"Everyone testifies that the National Action Charter, as a historical document, agreed upon by the citizens of Bahrain, has involved numerous reforms, in all life areas in our country and reinforced Bahrain’s high global reputation And those reforms 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. The principle of separation of powers, with cooperation among them, also has to be taken into account; it is stipulated by the Constitution.
"Undoubtedly, what we have achieved together through the National Dialogue is 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.
"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".
"Also it is amongst our responsibility to continue with our earnest efforts to achieve our ambitions in developing all the sectors that are in the service of the citizens, among which the qualitative development of education and health sectors which constitute an essential pier for human development. And exert further efforts towards completion of the housing project that consists of 40,000 housing units within the time limit and development of the remaining public services
"We also hail the achievements of our 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.
"Now that we are about to begin this new legislative term, we must 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.
"On this basis, we should realize their aspirations and learn about the challenges they are facing in order to involve them, as an effective component to participate in the decision-making process for a promising shining future.
"On this honorable occasion, we extend our thanks and appreciation to His Royal Highness, our dear uncle, the Honorable Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and to our Crown Prince, His Royal Highness, our loyal son Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the trusty Heir Apparent, for their constant follow-up and development of government work, and for their interaction with all social components to directly learn about the opinions of the honorable citizens about the public services offered by the state.
"We should also extend our greetings to the sincere personnel of the Bahrain Defence Force, Public Security and National Guard, the shield of the nation the vigilant eyes who protect its security, those who spare no effort in assuming their great responsibilities in protecting the homeland and preserving its developmental and civilizational achievements very similar to their forefathers who made sacrifices for the sake of preserving the entity of our cherished Kingdom, we congratulate them on the Military Command, which was approved by their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council States, and their approval of Bahrain to host the headquarters of the Unified Naval Operations Centre, including the Unified Naval Task Force 81, as well as the establishment of a Gulf Police body, with its headquarters in Abu Dhabi, which is considered an advanced phase of the joint security work, and which will reinforce the capabilities of the police agencies in the GCC States.
"We should not forget in this context to remember the martyrs of the call of duty, those men who sacrificed their souls for the sake of their religion and homeland Bahrain, praying to Allah Almighty to rest their souls in eternal peace and accept them in heaven with the pious.
"Brothers and sisters
"The Kingdom of Bahrain is always keen on pushing forward the Gulf Cooperation Council march in order to achieve further integration and heading seriously towards union The agreement of Riyadh and the Riyadh supplementary agreement, which have been signed in Riyadh recently, will give our union more strength and power.
"Therefore, we express our appreciation for the great role played by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Monarch of the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and our brothers, the GCC leaders, who have been keen to reach this agreement which is in the good benefit of all the citizens of the brotherly GCC States.
"With regard to the economic integration and union between the GCC countries, we reiterate our welcome of what have been achieved, and we are also confident that construction work on the project of the King Hamad Causeway with Saudi Arabia will include railway transport services to Bahrain, and it will be an anchor to achieve integration, encourage investment and trade for further economic and social unity, and enhance the policy of linking the GCC states in all fields of interest to the nation and citizens, which in the end will benefit and achieve prosperity to all the peoples of our countries.
"This is not all, our present requires from us, more than at any time before, that all Arab countries are in agreement and overcome any differences to maintain the Arab entity as an effective regional power under the umbrella of the Arab league, and to work on the existing ties between their people, bolster cooperation relations and joint interests between them, especially due to the slow pace of recovery of the global economy, which is an issue that requires the speeding up of the implementation of effective economic and financial policies, providing structural reforms that support growth, and create further job opportunities. The decision of establishing the Arab Human Rights Court enhances the status of Arab countries at the international level, and here we also call on the international community to foster cooperation and joint work in order to find the appropriate approach on these pressing issues that will support our joint goals for a strong and comprehensive global economic growth.
"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.
"In addition, the Kingdom of Bahrain is keen to bolster its strategic economic relations with its friendly countries, within the framework of cordial relations that link us with countries across the world, on the basis of mutual respect and joint interests. Our visits to a number of friendly countries in Asia and Europe is an embodiment of this policy, and the continued bolstering of historic and trade relations that bind us to those countries since ancient times as well as investing these visits for the benefit of a peaceful and secure future in a vital region that world depends on for its stability.
"The Kingdom of Bahrain was, still is and will remain extending its hand for cooperation and peace to all the countries, and we always call for international relations, based on mutual respect and non-interference in the domestic affairs of the other states,,, this requires, at this phase, that we preserve peoples’ stability and progress, fight extremism and terrorism which disrupts the construction process and ruins the future of the peoples.
"In this context, we should commend the National Assembly recommendations with regard to the fight against terrorism in all its forms and drying up its funding sources,, as well as we affirm our readiness to continue supporting the international efforts to reinforce security in the region, for the importance of such a matter to global stability and peace.
"Finally, we take pride in the traditions and values that the honorable Bahraini citizens have inherited,,, and in their profound national awareness, as well as in their belonging to this land .. they have always being loyal to their religion, nation and Arab identity, exhibiting truthful resolve and seeking whatever could lead to their nation’s high status, advancement and progress.
"Here they are now - the honorable sons of Bahrain. They are continuing with their truthful resolve and firm will towards further achievements, hoping that this new legislative term would be a renewed pulse that combines ambitions with hopes, through hard work for the goodness, prosperity and welfare of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
"We pray to God Almighty to protect Bahrain and to grant it lasting blessings and grace.
"And as Allah said: "All bounties are in the hand of Allah: He granteth them to whom He pleaseth: for Allah is the Lord of bounties unbounded." God all mighty has spoken the truth.
"May Allah guide us through the straight path.
"May peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you."