The agreements covered a wide variety of interests ranging from agriculture, finance, legalities, maritime, technology, double taxation to rights of the handicapped, military cooperation, customs duties, and patents rights.
The Assembly, however, opted to leave open a number of security agreements on its agenda for later decision making, pending reports on them by the parliamentary committee on foreign relations in two weeks’ time.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly deliberated on the draft bill on the state’s 2011/2012 working plan and gave it green light, yesterday, with 26 ayes, 22 nays, and two abstentions with 50 MPs present for the vote.
During the discussion, the MPs stressed the working plan needs to be comprehensive and realistic with clear visions and that goals listed must be presented with timetable for execution and in a format that allows for tangible assessment.
There was also stress the private sector be given a bigger role in the development plan and that the projects and investments create alternative sources of revenue on the long-run and contribute to solving the problems facing citizens.
The MPs also demanded the government starts “as of right now” preparing the 2015-2020 development plan, with Minister of State for Planning and Development Affairs Rola Dashti showing agreement and intention to work accordingly.
Dashti said the government had, in deed, started drafting the plan, and added it “would be presenting the biannual reports on achievement and progress of the plan covering the last three years in a week’s time.”
