Information Attache

Muscat, Feb 29 (ONA)

His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has issued seven Royal Decrees as follows;

Royal Decree No. 9/2012 On the Supreme Judicial Council.

Article One: The Supreme Judicial Council shall be constituted under the Chair of His Majesty the Sultan and the membership of

1-Chairman of the Supreme Court - Deputy Chairman

2-Chairman of the Administrative Judicial Court.

3-The Attorney General.

4-The most senior Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Court.

5-The Chairman of the Sharia Court Circuit at the Supreme Court.

6-Deputy Chairman of the Administrative Judiciary Court.

When one of the members is absent or has a hindrance, he shall be replaced by the person after him at the agency he is representing.

Article Two: The Supreme Judicial Council aims at ensuring the independence of judiciary, developing it, integrating the values, ethics and morals of judicial work and caring for its systems.

Article Three: While seeking to achieve its objectives, all its jurisdiction and powers, the Supreme Judiciary Council may in particular;

1-Shape the general policy of the judiciary.

2-Ensure smooth running of work at the courts, public prosecution and its development.

3-Ensure facilitating the litigation procedures and make litigation accessible to litigants.

4-Look into the nominations raised by the respective authorities to fill the judicial positions, positions of the members of the Judiciary Administrative Court, public prosecution positions either through appointment or promotion; as per the law subject that the filling of such positions should be according to a royal decree.

5-Propose draft laws related to judiciary, give opinion about the draft laws raised by the respective authorities.

6-Give opinion about the draft agreements for the judicial cooperation between the Sultanate and other countries.

7-Any other subjects that His Majesty the Sultan may submit to the Council for study and give opinion.

Article Four: The Supreme Judiciary Council shall meet under the chair of His Majesty the Sultan. It may convene under the chair of the Deputy Chairman but in such case the decisions shall not be binding unless they are approved by His Majesty the Sultan. The Council shall issue a decision about its work system.

Article Five: The Supreme Judiciary Council shall have a Secretariat General that will practice all the administrative and financial liabilities to ensure smooth running of work at the council. A decision about its formation and work system shall be issued.

Read More:

http://192.168.1.10/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=38&Itemid=82

In implementation of the Royal will of His Majesty represented in the Royal decree establishing Sultan Qaboos Award for Culture, Arts and Literature, the award launched at Crown Plaza Hotel, yesterday. The award aims at supporting the cultural, artistic and literary fields considering them as a way to emphasise the cultural and humanitarian promotion.

The competition also aims to implant the values of traditions and evolvement in the upcoming generation through providing them with a perfect ambience based on the intellectual, artistic and scientific competition. The event was presided over by Dr Abdulmunim bin Mansour al Hasani, Information Minister, in the presence of Dr Ali bin Mohammed bin Moosa, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Central Bank and Chairman of the Board of the Trustee of the award and Board members.

During the event, Dr Abdulmunim al Hasani also launched the award website. The chairman of the Board of the Trustees in his speech said the award aims to honour artists and intellectuals for their cultural contribution towards evolving the intellect and promoting humanitarian conscience. The award is a part of the continuous interest and Royal care of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos towards culture and its position in the Sultanate’s comprehensive development.

“The award is very broad and also covers various cultural aspects like arts, literature and humanitarian sciences, and goes beyond the Omani surroundings to cover all talented people in the Arabic world,” he added. The Sultan Qaboos Award for Culture, Arts and Literature is considered to be an annual award that is granted each year. It will also be given as an appreciation award every year for both Omanis alongside with their Arab brothers.

The Board of Trustees of the award is responsible for organising the process of the award’s work by specifying the majors of the award, declaring the opening date for applications and its date of closure, forming the committees of evaluation, the date of proclaiming the results and presenting the award to winners. Also the Sultan Qaboos Centre for Islamic Culture is responsible for all the award’s specialisations and its application.

The award is granted for winners in the fields of culture, arts and literature where one branch of each field will be chosen in each turn of the award, so that three winners of intellectuals, artists and literature will be granted the award each year. Which means, there will be one winner in each field. The Sultan Qaboos Appreciation Award for Culture, Arts and Literature will be granted based upon the total work and achievements of the applicant, whereas the Sultan Qaboos Award for Culture, Arts and Literature will be granted upon one work only for the applicant.

Applicants can apply personally or through scientific, cultural and artist institutions, and the process of evaluation will undergo a couple of procedures and general criteria, such as traditions, commitment to scientific method, innovation and evolvement, whereas other criteria are more specific and will be left for local evaluating committees in each field of the award to decide.

The awards will be in three fields, the first one will be in the cultural field. It is related to the varied cultural works and writings in specialisations of human and social horizons in general, for instance language, history, heritage, philosophy, translation and intellectual studies. The second one is art field. It is related to the artist work production in its different international aspects, such as music, fine arts, sculpture, photography and painting.

The third one is literature field. It is related to different literature types including poetry, novels, short story, literature critique and writing plays. The first winner of the Sultan Qaboos Appreciation Award for Culture, Arts and Literature will be granted the Sultan Qaboos Order for culture, Arts and Literature alongside a sum of RO 100,000.

Secondly, the winner of the Sultan Qaboos Award for Culture, Arts and Literature will be granted The Sultan Qaboos Order for Culture, Arts and Literature alongside a sum of RO 50,000. The Board of Trustees of the Award has decided that the award — in its first turn — be merely for Omanis in areas of short story, drawing, painting and historical studies. Details will be declared through different local media streams and on the award’s website.

By: Saleh Abdullah Alkhamyasi

Muscat is repositioning itself once again. After being the Cultural Capital of the Arab World in 2006 it is selected as the Arab Capital of Tourism in 2012 by the Arab Council of Ministers.
Muscat has always mesmerized its visitors and created a love from the first sight impression in their hearts. The moment they land in Muscat they can sense the serenity of the place. Once they interact with its people they appreciate the hospitable touch with which Omanis welcome them.

A spontaneous smile disseminates the welcoming salutes that put them at ease. They experience the feeling of being at home even when they are away from home.

So what could Muscat bank on in this year to position Oman as a place for tranquil, peaceful and exceptional tourist destination? What could it show as a place for memorable reunions, unique cultural exposure and intellectual gatherings that can be alive in their memories to narrate an abundance of tales when they return to their homelands?
Muscat was also selected as the second best city on earth to visit by the influential travel guide publisher Lonely Planet. A recognition well deserved and it certainly has what it takes to even be the first tourist destination as well.

Achieving such status was a result of great efforts to turn Muscat into an exemplary city & make its reality speaks louder than words. From a conventional to a cosmopolitan city Muscat struck a balance between its Islamic identity with its traditional Islamic architectural design and its modern touch that does not fail the eye.
Muscat can definitely bank on its deep seated heritage. As a point of interaction between many cultures, ships and dhows sailed from Muscat to so many places such as the Gulf region, Yemen, India, East Africa and even as far as China. In fact, the dhow Sultanah sailed to the United States of America in 1833 as an ambassador of peace from Oman.

In our present era current generation has witnessed the Journey of the dhow Sohar in the track of the silk route and the successful journey of the Jewel of Muscat to Singapore last year commencing from the harbor of the Sultan Qaboos Port in the governorate of Muscat. Therefore no wonder Muscat is a melting pot of people from different cultures. Sitting in the Corniche of Muttrah, facing the sea and watching the ships laden with tourists embracing the inviting waters of the port is a sight to behold and cherish. As the tourists step their foot onto the shores, their faces light up with joy and happiness.

A place with such a versatile culture and hospitable people will undoubtedly be more than qualified to attract the lame light and be the center of attraction.
Our magnificently beautiful capital Muscat will certainly mesmerize its visitors from around the world. Our unique geographical features and versatile culture will provide food for thoughts. Visitors will certainly have so many options to spend a perfect holiday whilst in Muscat.
From being mesmerized by the pristine beaches to the breathtaking experience while enjoying strolling about in traditional souqs and museums to being enthralled by many beautiful sights and architectural marvels such as the Royal Opera House and the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque which have become the on core of tourist agenda.

Undoubtedly the Ministry of Tourism will unravel so many surprises that they have in store for the visiting tourists in Muscat this year. They will be showcasing the various elements that position Muscat as an unchallenged & unrivalled city of multi cultural synergies. The Muscat Festival will pave the way for so many activities that will exhibit without doubt that Muscat is the Jewel of Arabia.

Muscat will be the starting point from where the visitors will branch out to explore the numerous sights and places to visit all over Oman encompassing the coastal, mountainous & agricultural topographies that sets the country apart from any other.
Citizens & Residents alike should join hands to make the event of “ Muscat As the Capital of Arab Tourism” a Grand Success.