ABU DHABI, 31st January 2014 (WAM) - The National Election Committee discussed in its first meeting this year amendments regarding the method of selecting representatives of the UAE Federal National Council and the voting system in addition to a number of related topics.
Addressing the meeting, Dr. Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs and Chairman of the National Election Committee, said: "The modernization process of the political system is an important part of the United Arab Emirate?s efforts to achieve balanced development through gradual and specific steps.""Undertaking such a process gradually will help create an electoral culture and deepen national loyalty," added Dr. Gargash. Noting that the UAE has been successful in meeting the aspirations of the leadership in this regard, Dr. Gargash said President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan?s programme to strengthen the role of the Federal National Council has achieved wider participation of citizens in shaping the future of their homeland. The meeting was attended by Dr. Hadef Bin Jouan Al Dhaheri, Minister of Justice; Abdul Rahman Bin Mohammed Nasir Al Owais, Minister of Health, Humaid Mohamed Al Qutami, Minister of Education; Hamad Abdul Rahman Al Madfa, Secretary-General for the Supreme Council of the Union in the Ministry of Presidential Affairs; and Dr. Ali Mohammad Al Khouri , Director General of the Emirates Identity Authority. The meeting was also attended by Lieutenant General Saif Abdullah Al Shafar, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior, Najla Mohammed Al Awar, representative of the Ministry of Ministers Affairs, Tariq Hilal Lootah, Undersecretary of the Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs, and Dr. Saeed Mohammed Al Ghafli, Assistant Undersecretary for Federal National Council Affairs in the Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs. The Committee emphasized the need to conduct meetings early enough and before the expiry of the Federal National Council session in response to the desire of the political leadership to grant sufficient time to the Committee to study the requirements for the upcoming elections, as the electoral cycle needs a great effort in planning process and implementation. The meeting reviewed Decision No. 6 of 2013 issued by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan to amend the provisions of Decision No. 3 of 2006 related to the method of selecting representatives of the UAE in the Federal National Council. It also discussed a number of topics related to the next phase of preparations for elections.Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2014.
