FNC must tackle issues of global significance as well
The Federal National Council (FNC) is a key building stone in the development of the UAE, its governance and its onward march to progress and innovation, ensuring that there’s open and consultative communication between all Emiratis.
On Sunday, the FNC set about its business at the Second Ordinary Session of the 16th Legislative Chapter, a formal opening that was attended by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who spoke on behalf of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Wishing the FNC members the very best in carrying out their duties in serving the homeland, Shaikh Mohammad called on them to be committed to their national duty and strengthen the parliamentary experience and the ties of federation that unify the UAE.
The challenge facing the FNC is to ensure that its work remains relevant to issues not just at home, but also on the international stage. Dr Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, the FNC Speaker, reiterated this point with a call for FNC members to deal with the changes that surround and the challenges that face the UAE as a nation and its society. Specifically, Al Qubaisi called on the Cabinet to set up a joint committee between the FNC and the government to fully discuss the consequences of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (Jasta), recently passed by the United States Congress. That act allows foreign governments to be sued in US courts and also undermines the established principle of sovereign immunity in international law and diplomacy.
Al Qubaisi’s call is timely and it’s one that should not be ignored, particularly given the strong ties between the UAE and the US.
