FNC celebrates 44th anniversary

The Federal National Council (FNC) organised a grand ceremony at the Emirates Palace to mark its 44th anniversary of establishment as one of the state's fifth constitutional authority in the country.

The House was founded on February 12, 1972.

Dr. Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Speaker of the Federal National Council (FNC) addressed the event which was attended by Sheikh Abdullah bin Rashid Al Mu'alla, Deputy Ruler of Umm Al Quwain; Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development; Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs; Saber Hossain Chowdhury, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union; former speakers of the FNC, Faiz Al Shawabka, Secretary-General of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union (AIPU), and a number of diplomats and VIPs.

Present also were former and incumbent MPs and representatives of families of the nation's martyrs.

The FNC also organised an interactive photo and video exhibition showcasing important milestones in the history of the house, office of the late founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan at the FNC, samples of first minutes and the statute and other parliamentary tools.

The event also saw the screening of a documentary on the evolution of the FNC over the past 44 years and a performance of the Shura Dome Operetta.

UAE will harness energies of Emiratis to enhance its role in political empowerment and nation building: Amal Al Qubaisi

The FNC’s work is an integral part of the Union's spirit and state's efforts to promote the principle of Shura, as laid down by the late founding father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and other UAE leaders, Dr. Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Speaker of the Federal National Council (FNC), said.

(Pic Courtesy: Al Bayan)

''Throughout the past 15 Legislative Chapters, thousands of members, elected by voters and appointed by the leadership, served under the dome to realise the interests of citizens, community and the state and remained the voice of the nation's conscience as representatives of the people of the Union,'' Al Qubaisi said in an address during a ceremony held by the House to mark its 44th anniversary.

"Today, while the state and its people are forging ahead towards a promising future full of unlimited aspirations and expectations, our leadership has inspired us to work hard to develop our political experiment to empower the Emiratis to actively engage in shaping its future and carrying out responsibilities for nation building,'' she remarked.

''Guided by the empowerment address of the President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE Vision 2021 of the government of Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, members of the House have been developing the first parliamentary plan which involves all spectrums of the local community,'' she said.

Throughout its extended and renewed course, she said, the House is proud of all generations - be these speakers or members - for their contribution to ensure an inclusive, balanced and sustainable development.

 ''The FNC members are working diligently to draw strategic initiatives that will guarantee broader and active participation of citizens in the work of the House and enable it to perform its political, legislative and supervisory role properly. We will engage members of the community in the decision-making process and make them a key contributor to comprehensive development,'' she added.

 She indicated that the FNC would launch a series of strategic initiatives that would harness the energies, wisdom and experiences of the Emirati people.

''Being a young nation, most of whose population comprises youth, the FNC will work to enhance the role of the makers of the future and want them to participate actively in the parliamentary work. Our national political empowerment programme needs participation of all members of the community, not only during elections but also in active engagement in the work and missions of the House,'' she said.

 ''We are working to make the FNC a true platform for the youth -- the indispensable, strategic leverage for building a nation that we all aspire for,'' she added.

She called on the MPs to coordinate among themselves to have deep understanding for tackling common strategic challenges that the world is facing today and engage with communities in finding solutions to them.

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