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Khalifa calls for improved governance

ABU DHABI — The President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has issued a federal Decree No. 7, calling on the Federal National Council (FNC) to convene its first ordinary round of the 14th Legislative Chapter on Monday (February 12) 2007.

In a statement on the occasion, Shaikh Khalifa called upon the parliamentarians to present new ideas to improve performance of government entities and boost capabilities of both executive and judicial authorities.

Improve transparency

Such ideas, noted Shaikh Khalifa, should reinforce security, promote values of justice, improve level of transparency, accountability and integrity, and promote rights and freedoms.

“The FNC should exhibit capability and efficiency and must be closely involved in issues of utmost concern to the country and its people”, Shaikh Khalifa said. The President further added that he would soon announce new steps to boost the role of the FNC as a legislative body. He said: “As part of close cooperation between the legislative and executive powers, we will soon decree laws that would boost the role of the FNC as the legislative branch supporting the government. This will be done within the context of the supremacy of the law and also as part of the efforts to complement responsibilities amongst various institutions of the state”. Shaikh Khalifa pointed out that the upcoming role of the FNC will be, by and large, a continuity of the past experiences. “The new Legislative Chapter is a culmination of the achievements that have been made over the past 35 years, notably in terms of maintaining our federation and realising other national goals that were set by the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and the founding fathers.’’ He praised the achievements made by the FNC during the past years.

Shaikh Khalifa pointed out that development in the next stages will not be limited to FNC, describing the programme adopted by the government as a framework to lead the society and to motivate youth to develop their talents and skills, to instill patriotic values and to stride confidently into the 21^st century.

Shaikh Khalifa stressed the need to strengthen cooperation between federal and local authorities to continue the development march.

The president said he was confident that the members of the federal national council are capable of shouldering responsibility.

“You are entrusted by the citizens to represent them and to reflect their aspirations and needs,’ he told the FNC members.

He urged the members to present new ideas to improve performance of government entities and to boost both executive and judicial authorities.

He also called for investing in human development, developing mechanisms for political participation and voluntary works and perpetuating values of patriotism and loyalty.

Shaikh Khalifa congratulated the members for being elected as competent representatives entrusted with safeguarding the country’s deep rooted traditions and heritage

He also paid tribute to the women of UAE in their first legislative experience and underlined their vital role in political life.

Shaikh Khalifa concluded by saying: “We hold our country in high esteem and we treasure its glorious past and bright future and we shall adhere to our values to guarantee security, justice, development and progress for the UAE.”