By Ali Al-Robai

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

RIYADH — Dr. Abdullah Al-Sheikh, president of the Shoura Council, affirmed that the Council is making giant qualitative leap in its performance and is keeping pace with the great development march being witnessed by the Kingdom. He emphasized that the Council’s main goal is serving the interests of the country and the citizens as well as fulfillment of the aspirations of the rulers and the hopes of the citizens. “This feeling and conviction have created some sort of harmony among the Council members during their discussions and deliberations,” he said.

Al-Sheikh made the remarks in an interview with Okaz/Saudi Gazette on the occasion of the annual address of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman to the Council on Wednesday, marking the beginning of the second year of the Council’s eighth session.

He said that the Council monitors and follows up the opinions and suggestions of Saudi male and female citizens. “The doors are open to hear from them what meets their aspirations,” he said while stressing that the Council is open to constructive criticism without apprehension.

The Shoura chief said that the Council performs its distinguished parliamentary role similar to its counterparts around the world. “The Council has made remarkable contributions toward the reform measures that the Kingdom has initiated and this is through in-depth and accurate advice and consultations based on diligent and careful studies. “The Council members are distinguished by their intellectual and scientific diversity and practical experiences,” he said while noting that the King’s annual address to the Council would be a comprehensive discourse on the major domestic and foreign policies that spell out the Kingdom’s positions on various issues in the regional and international arenas.

Al-Sheikh emphasized that the Council attaches great importance to criticism as it is a mirror that contributes to improving performance. “We are not apprehensive about criticism but rather welcome and appreciate it. We examine what comes out of it in a constructive way and monitor these opinions in a timely manner,” he said while emphasizing that the Council follows up opinions and criticism that it receives through various outlets of media, social networking sites, or e-mail. “We have recently noticed a significant increase in the level of awareness and knowledge among the public about the roles and actions of the Council. We appreciate that as it motivates us to do more work and score achievements,” he said.

Al-Sheikh said the Council held 46 online sessions during the first year of the eighth session, during which it took 249 decisions, including 117 decisions related to annual performance reports, 57 decisions concerned with the 15th article of the Shoura Council system, and 19 decisions related to Article 17of the Council’s system. Regarding agreements, treaties and memoranda of understanding, the Council issued 48 decisions during the last year.

He said the Council was also keen to enhance the competencies of its committees and their work in studying and discussing the reports and topics referred to them. These committees held nearly 251 intensive in person and remote meetings, he added.