SHARM EL-SHEIKH: Kuwaiti National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Ali Al- Ghanim speaking to the media in Sharm El-Sheikh yesterday. —KUNA

 SHARM EL-SHEIKH: The Egyptian parliament has proven its repute despite the adversity it has encountered during the course of its illustrious history, Kuwaiti National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Ali Al-Ghanim said yesterday.

Al-Ghanim's remarks came in a statement to the press after participating in celebrations marking the sesquicentennial anniversary of the inception of Egypt's parliament.

"We are proud to join our Egyptian brothers in their celebrations, as Egypt has always been a pioneer of Arab parliamentarianism," Al-Ghanim noted. "We are talking about the largest Arab nation's parliament and of a history so rich and profound," the Kuwaiti Parliament Speaker said, adding that Kuwait's ties with Egypt remain vigorous. Moreover, he wished the Egyptian parliament "every success and prosperity."

Speaker Al-Ghanim accompanied by a delegation is taking part in the festival. The delegation includes MPs Faisal Al-Shaya, Humoud Al-Hamdan, Kamel Al-Awadhi and Rakan Al-Nisf as well as National Assembly Secretary General Allam Al-Kandari.

Al-Ghanem met his Egyptian counterpart Dr Ali Abdulal in Egypt's Red Sea resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh yesterday. During the meeting, held on the sidelines of a ceremony marking the 150th anniversary of the Egyptian parliament, they discussed bilateral cooperation and coordination between both sides' parliaments over continental and international issues.

   Condolences

The Speaker yesterday sent a cable of condolences to Haiti's Senate President Ronald Larche and Speaker of the House of Representatives Cholzer Chancy over the victims of Hurricane Matthew. Meanwhile, Egypt's President Abdelfatah Al-Sisi said yesterday that the parliamentary life over the last decades has "mirrored the country's social, economic and political situations". Al-Sisi made the remark in a speech during a ceremony marking 150 years of the parliamentary life in Egypt, in the presence of heads and members of Arab, African and international legislatures. Al-Sisi reviewed the experiment of the parliamentary life in the country since the formation of a first legislature upon a decree by Khedive Ismail Pasha in 1866.

He said the parliament has experienced big changes since its establishment, adding that the 2014 Constitution "grants the current 596-seat parliament wide and unprecedented powers". This parliament represents different segments of Egyptian people, he asserted. He indicated that the House of Representatives has taken its responsibilities amid "unprecedented economic and political challenges", expressing his confidence in parliamentarians' ability to take measures aiming to maintain the country's security and achieve its economic renaissance".

He voiced his hope that the House would translate aspirations of Egyptian people into effective legislations and resolutions so as to achieve social and economic development. -KUNA