UAE | Government
Khalifa: FNC's role will be expanded
The national elections, which concluded yesterday, will contribute to the building of a successful parliamentary experiment, President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan said.
- WAM
- Published: 23:36 May 3, 2009
- Shaikh Khalifa urged the government "to provide the appropriate atmosphere to allow the FNC to exercise its role."
- Image Credit: WAM
Abu Dhabi: The national elections, which concluded yesterday in Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain, will contribute to the building of a successful parliamentary experiment, President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan said last night.
In an address to the nation marking the end of the polling process, Shaikh Khalifa congratulated the winners and told them that the trust of the voters was a responsibility that should be shouldered in the best interests of the nation and its citizens.
He said while the Federal National Council (FNC) had in the past helped the government in achieving legislation and addressing many issues, its role would be expanded in the coming era "to enrich and develop our parliamentary experiment."
He urged the government "to provide the appropriate atmosphere to allow the FNC to exercise its role as a bridge between citizens and the state institutions and its executive and administrative leaders."
The following is the text of Shaikh Khalifa's statement: "Now that the election of the FNC members is complete, it is a great pleasure to extend my profound gratitude, deep appreciation and regards to my dear countrymen and women, in general and to the electoral authorities, in particular, for their great job that ensured the great success of this process, which we want to be a launch pad to a greater height and a comprehensive practice towards grassroots participation in our decision-making process and shouldering of responsibilities.
Congratulations
"As we congratulate our brothers and sisters, members of the FNC, who won the trust of the electorate, we wish to reaffirm here that the trust of the voters is a responsibility that should be shouldered in the best interest of the nation and its citizens.
"The gradual parliamentary process reflects the particularity of the UAE political experience, which was laid down by the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. That political experience has contributed immensely to providing stability and prosperity to our union.
"As we adopt this same method to develop the principle of public participation, we strongly believe this gradual approach will contribute positively in the building of a mature parliamentary process, which has the necessary factors to perform its legislative and supervisory duties in accordance with the constitution.
"As UAE women were a strong presence in the country's first elections, we have faith their significant achievement by winning a seat in the FNC will be justified by their contributions to the FNC sessions, particularly on issues related to women and other social issues. The years ahead will see a greater role for the private sector in national work. There will be greater interaction between national interests and regional and international developments.
"It is therefore the responsibility of the FNC members to improve our legislation to be in line with developments in a way that harmonises with our national interests. We strongly believe the government will create the right climate that will enable the FNC to live up to its role as a bridge between citizens and the state institutions and its executive and administrative leaders.
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