UAE: United Arab Emirates inaugurates the advisory Federal National Council

The United Arab Emirates' new federal council is to be inaugurated. UAE leaders have named eight women to a 40-seat advisory council, in addition to one female member elected in the Gulf state's first elections last December. The Federal National Council (FNC) of the United Arab Emirates on Monday (February 12) celebrated its 35th anniversary of holding its first session as a federal institution in Abu Dhabi. His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan inaugurated the first regular session of the 14th Legislative Chapter, in the presence of Members of the Supreme Council and the Rulers of the Emirates. Last December, hand-picked voters cast their ballots in the United Arab Emirates in the second phase of elections for an advisory council, the first in the Gulf Arab state. Rulers of the seven emirates comprising the UAE chose 6,689 voters, less than one percent of its 800,000 nationals, to elect half of the 40-seat Federal National Council (FNC). They say they selected a representative sample of the population. "This council is involved in a lot of issues such as looking into laws and commenting on them. Its role is an advisory one, somewhat and we hope with the promise of the leadership that it will give this council some authority and develop it into a legislative council . We desire, God-Willing, that these authorities complement (the government's work) and not to drag us backwards. We don't want to repeat the mistakes of other democracies. We don't want to become duplicates of other democracies but rather to have a unique democracy that reflects the progress and goals in our society," said the Dubai representative of the Federal Council, Khaled Ali Bin Zayed. Eight women have been named to this 40-seat advisory council in addition to one female member elected in the Gulf state's first elections in December. The appointments put the FNC's female membership at 22.5 percent, more that twice the average of 9.3 percent in Arab countries, according to the world Inter-Parliamentary Union. ''I'm very happy that I'm speaking on behalf of women in the United Arab Emirates and I believe that women in the country are extremely lucky because we have been honoured in more than one way starting with the historical decree issued by His Excellency Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the leader of the country may God protect him when he gave women the right to participate in the National Council by way of election or nomination. We were then honoured by the historical statement announced by His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum when he said that the woman is the spirit of the place and should be a partner in the developmental efforts in the United Arab Emirates'', said Emirate of Fujeirah representative on council, Ruwaya Saif Sultan Al Samahi. Members of the council made their formal pledges, swearing to uphold the country's constitution and work with honesty and sincerity.

ITN Source | February 12, 2007

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