The meeting sought to hold a positive and fruitful dialogue and to share views aimed at reaching a common vision that will contribute to the efforts being made to achieve the government’s development targets.
The meeting was held within the context of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said’s keenness to push forward the wheel of development in the Sultanate, care for Omani citizens, upgrade their skills and improve their capabilities to play an active role in the comprehensive development march.
His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, deputy prime minister for the Council of Ministers, their highnesses and excellencies, members of the Council of Ministers, have drawn the government’s attention towards their views that aim at achieving further progress and realising a balanced growth of all regions.
Sayyid Fahd opened the dialogue at the meeting that was dominated by objectivity and the understanding of the challenges that call for consolidating all efforts to achieve the government’s envisaged goals and ambitions. He pointed out that the directives to the government focus primarily on serving Omani citizens.
Sayyid Fahd said he is proud of the government’s achievements in terms of progress and development.
The deputy prime minister, appreciating the expertise of the Council of Oman members in dealing with all matters, stressed that it is an indication that Oman will always remain on the safe side under the leadership of its inspired leader and its faithful people.
The members of the Council of Oman expressed expressed their appreciation for the government’s efforts in implementing a number of development projects.
Dr Yahya bin Mahfoudh Al Mantheri, chairman of the State Council, and Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Isa’ee, chairman of the Majlis Al Shura, appreciated the positive outcome of the meeting in terms of cooperation between the public institutions and the people.
Interior Minister Sayyid Saud bin Ibrahim Al Busaidi said such meetings were important as they discuss almost all major issues of concern to the country and the citizen. “They serve as a link between the ministers and members of the State Council and Majlis Al Shura,” he said. “Yesterday’s meeting was open and though it did not have a specified agenda it discussed a number of issues of common concern.”
Sayyid Saud also affirmed that the meetings between the two councils during the past have achieved envisaged objectives in realising the aspirations of citizens of this beloved country.
On their turn, the State Council and Majlis Al Shura members expressed their thanks and appreciation to the government in organising such fruitful consultative sessions.
GCC to adopt single visa system — al-Awadhi
KUNA: GCC immigration chiefs are expected to approve a single visa application system at a meeting Sunday, Kuwait’s immigration chief said.
A la the European Schengen visa, the planned European visa will enable Gulf visitors to tour all the six GCC member countries, Kuwaiti General Administration for Immigration Director-General Brig. Kamel al-Awadhi told KUNA on the sidelines of the 24th meeting of GCC immigration chiefs.
The single Gulf visa application system was suggested and given the thumbs up during a recent meeting of undersecretaries of GCC interior ministries in Riyadh, he said.
During their gathering here, the Gulf conferees will also adopt an overture to give foreign residents in GCC countries a "double residency permit" in order to allow them to study and open offices in any GCC country, he added.
Furthermore, he unfolded that all Kuwaiti citizens would be given smart Gulf ID cards by August 2009, which would make it easy for them to move from one Gulf country to another.
The ongoing GCC meeting in Abu Dhabi will thrash out a spectrum of issues pertinent to security coordination and cooperation among the GCC member countries over the facilitation of movement of Gulf citizens and foreign residents.
Kuwait’s delegation participating in the meeting is led by al-Awadhi and includes several other security officials.
