ABU DHABI, 10 July 2007 — Anwar Gargash, minister of state for Federal National Council Affairs (FNC), has applauded the performance of the UAE government in promoting political dialogue and creating an interactive political atmosphere that highlights the developmental aspirations of UAE society.

The concluded term is the first of two that comprise the 14th legislative chapter of the FNC.

In a review of the FNC’s overall performance, Gargash said keen participation of ministers, FNC members and governmental representatives demonstrates the dynamic political environment of the country.

Discussions were held on the past term, which centered on societal welfare measures, promoted new legislation, enhanced organizational structures and enriched the UAE federal government experience.

The Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs played a key liaising role as coordinator between the government and the FNC. “Our goal was to facilitate communication flow between government officials and FNC members, which is imperative to constructive discussions and policy making. We were successful in bringing the government and the FNC closer by providing the right environment for parliamentary debate,” said Gargash.

He added: “The government was committed to spirited debate and deliberation with FNC members and the attendance of ministers was crucial in expediting the process. The ministries were also supportive in organizing separate meetings with FNC Special Committees to fast-track decisions. We were focused on making this FNC term one of the most successful and will continue to strive toward enriching our parliamentary experience.” He said the draft law for regulating in-vitro fertilization (IVF) centers across the UAE was one of the key issues discussed in the latest session. “The healthy debate on framing the draft law shows the level of public interest on this issue. Based on the deliberations, the FNC decided to add a new article to the draft law to implement a supervisory committee that will ensure that all IVF centers are working in accordance with Islamic rules, teachings and ethics.”

The FNC discussed 14 draft laws and 13 public matters during this legislative chapter that ran from Feb. 12 to July 4, 2007.