President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan reiterated today his commitment to strengthening the role of the Federal National Council. He also asserted his keenness on supporting the FNC to ensure its active participation in the development of the national work, in the building of a state of law and in the consolidation of the Shura approach that will take into account, the peculiarities of the customs and traditions of the people of the UAE, its heritage and the components of its social and cultural fabric.

The President’s statement came while he was receiving at the Dhiyafa Palace in Mushrif today, FNC Speaker Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr and members of the special committee set up to prepare a reply to the President’s speech.

Sheikh Khalifa also recieved from the FNC Speaker, the official reply to the presidential address he had made inaugurating the fifteenth legislative chapter of the country’s parliament.

In this reply, the FNC reiterated its bonds with the leadership, commended the remarkable achievements the country has made at various levels and said that it looks forward to seeing the government makes a comprehensive review of its domestic policies for the country’s progress commensurate with the requirements of the sustainable development.

It also mirrored the priorties and concerns of the country including the demographic balance, nationalisation and welfare of the citizens.

The President said: “In the next stage, we expect the Council to translate the aspirations of the citizens and serve their cases in line with the plans and strategies of the federal government and its vision for the future. We also look forward to seeing the FNC continue its performance, as always, fulfilling the aspirations of the citizens through the development of objectives and decision-making, so that we can achieve effective communication with the citizen, listen to his voice, understand his orientations and respond to his aspirations”.

The Speaker held in high esteem the remarks made by the President in his inaugural speech.

“The speech chalked out the programme for the national work that will meet the hopes and aspirations of the people for achieving all that would strengthen the pillars of the state and the requirements of the next phase of growth and development in various fields”, said the Speaker.

The President’s speech reflected the spirit of the Union and his vision for the progress of the country within the framework of the ‘Phase of Empowerment’ launched by him, added Al Murr.

He said that the reply prepared by the FNC confirms its confidence and trust on the President’s directives to continue to develop the economic, social, security, educational, cultural, health, housing, human resources, infrastructure and urban welfare.

HH Sheikh Tahnoon bin Mohammed Al Nahyan Ruler’s Representative in the Eastern Region, HH Sheikh Suroor Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, HH Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister, HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foreign Minister, HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan Member of Executive Council, Dr. Sheikh Saeed bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan Minister of Public Works, Dr. Anwar Mohammed Gargash Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs, Ahmed Juma Al Zaabi Deputy Minister of Presidential Affairsand a number of Sheikhs and senior officials attended the meeting.