Abu Dhabi, Feb. 11th, 2010 (WAM) -- The Federal National Council, the legislative body of UAE will celebrate thirty-eighth anniversary of its establishment tomorrow, as one of the five Federal Constitutional authorities amid at contributing in the parliamentary life of the country through enhancing political participation in decision-making process.
It is the foremost National Council where half of its members are elected by a wide participation of UAE women for the first time in parliamentary life. In addition to that, the constitutional amendment No. "1" for the year 2009, which included a number of articles with some dealing with the Council to enable it to expand its powers in a move followed by other steps towards strengthening the Council's role and status of implementing political program, announced by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in December, 2005. The anniversary of the founding of the Council, which held its first meeting in 1972, reflects the wisdom of our wise leadership to extend its history and the compassion of President H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan , Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and UAE Rulers and Supreme Council Members to enable the Council and its interaction with issues of citizens through the promotion of its role to be a supportive authority of the executive branch. Thanks to this support, the experience has given a role model in practice of democracy, where the history of participation and parliamentary work in UAE have characterized by awareness that comes from circumstances and needs of the UAE. The establishment of the Federal National Council, which begun its work on 12th of February 1972, coincided with the federation experience in the Arab world at the hands of the founders who gave much of their time and effort for this experience to succeed. They contributed in establishing a unique relationship between federal and local authorities that aims to tap potential of young people and overall development of all segments of the society. Late Sheikh Zayed, during the opening session of the Federal National Council, defined the role and tasks of the council by saying " Each segment of the society is involved in building life on this land and looks forward to your esteemed Council to achieve what it is aspired by participating in outlining a bright and prosperous future for us and for the younger generations of our children and grandchildren.... And that the Council is able to play an important role in realizing the hopes of the People towards building a society of dignity and prosperity."This support to the Council continued by directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in his speech to the Federal National Council on the occasion of the first ordinary session of the Fourteenth Legislative Chapter of the Council, which was inaugurated on February 12, 2007, and which he described that day as "historic, and an important juncture in the nation's history."Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2010.
