Abu Dhabi, March 30, 2010
The Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Education in the field of promoting a culture for political development and parliamentary life in the UAE, in the context of expanding the cooperation and coordination horizons with relevant authorities to contribute into the implementation of the National Program of His Highness Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the UAE, to activate and develop the role of the Federal National Council and strengthen political participation to support national gains.
The MoU was signed by HE Tariq Hilal Lootah, Director General of the Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs, Suwaidi, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Education at the Cabinet of the MOE in Abu Dhabi, and in the presence of senior officials from both Ministries.
The MOU included: the implementation of a series of activities and programs that would lead to achieve the highest degree of cooperation and coordination in all areas in order to enhance political awareness and to disseminate a culture of political participation in the UAE, and to increase the society awareness with the importance of political development, preparation of suggestions that enhances the state’s efforts in this area. Furthermore, to plan and implement joint programs and projects for exchanging experiences and information in areas that are consistent with the duties and powers of both parties to achieve their mission objectives.
The MOU referred to future coordination for the preparation of joint studies and researches, and the organization of conferences, events, forums for discussions and training programs in the field of political development. Moreover a permanent joint committee will be formed (two members from each party) to manage all planning, executing, supervising and evaluating any programs or action plans which was agreed upon for implementation, in accordance with the mechanisms and procedures set by the above committee.
Following the MOU signing, HE Tariq Hilal Lootah confirmed that signing this MOU came within the context of enhancing the cooperation and coordination between relevant state authorities to contribute into establishing political awareness concepts and disseminating a culture of political participation in the UAE, to achieve the leadership vision of enhancing political participation and the development of parliamentary life through coordination among the government, the Federal National Council and through partnerships with government entities to utilize the best human resources, financial and technical assistance available.
Lootah, added: the MoU aims to strengthen channels of communication for the benefits of both parties to design a general framework for the establishment of a fruitful bilateral cooperation between both ministries. Based on this cooperation, the permanent joint committee will be consisted of two members from both parties will manage all planning, implementing, supervising and evaluating any programs or action plan, which was agreed upon for implementation and in accordance with the mechanisms and procedures defined by the above committee.
On his side, HE Ali Meehad Al Suwaidi welcomed this step which aims at promoting a culture of political life and national work in the UAE, whereby he emphasized the importance of this MoU to pave the way for more cooperation and coordination between both ministries, in addition to increasing the society awareness with the importance of political development especially in the field of education and among students in the UAE, and preparing suggestions for the enhancement of the country’s efforts in this field.
Al Suwaidi also said that one of the most important objectives of the new strategy of the Ministry of Education is to develop students’ awareness with issues of their country, and to strengthen the preparation of a confident citizen who is able to achieve the aspirations of his people and support his leadership, and consolidate concepts of national belonging, by being equipped with science and knowledge in various fields of life. He also denoted the importance of the role the Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs plays for the dissemination of political culture, and praising with what was said in the MoU that seeks to achieve the common goals of both parties.
