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News Summary Report Wed / Oct. 31, 2018
Domestic Affairs
Al-Ghanim calls for following His Highness Amir's directives
Following His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's directives concerning the necessity of national unity and the importance of facing regional challenges would contribute to the stability and development of the State of Kuwait, said Speaker of the National Assembly Marzouq Al-Ghanim Tuesday.
Addressing the opening of the third regular session of the 15th legislative term, inaugurated by His Highness the Amir and attended by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and a score of MPs and senior officials, Speaker Al-Ghanim lauded His Highness Sheikh Sabah's stance on issues pertaining to regional developments.
"His Highness the Amir's efforts tried to rectifying the unbalanced situation and finding solutions to problems," said Al-Ghanim who indicated that the Kuwaiti leader's stance stemmed from his traditional policy to defuse tension and to encourage dialogue. The Kuwaiti people are proud and in debt to His Highness the Amir's non-stop efforts to fend off all that might harm the country and it citizens.
He added that Kuwait's reaction to developments in the region and the world should be calculated and precise to avoid pitfalls, affirming that thanks to His Highness the Amir's wisdom, the country managed to overcome every obstacle and challenge.
The speaker of parliament affirmed that the National Assembly should unconditionally support His Highness the Amir's efforts both regionally and internationally, stressing that national unity was the only path to fend off challenges both at home and abroad.
"Cooperation" is key to eradicate all threats posed by sectarian strife and corruption. It is the duty of the Kuwaiti people to remain vigilant in this regard, affirmed Al-Ghanim.
He added that the legislative and executive authorities have an obligation to follow the directives of the Kuwaiti leadership in an effort to encourage unity amongst the people.
Speaker Al-Ghanim said that reforms could not be achieved without cooperation and a sincere desire to shed off differences, stressing that only through the correct implementation of the tenets of the constitution that security and progress could be attained - KUNA
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Declining Membership Termination of Al-Tabtabei and Al-Harbash
The National Assembly approved the request of the Legislative Committee not to terminate the membership of the two MPs, Dr. Waleed Al-Tabtabei and Dr. Jamaan Al-Harbash after having the votes of 31 MPs against membership termination in consideration of 29.
However, the two MPs, Riyadh Al-Adsani and Yousef Al-Fadalah didn’t participate in voting- Al-Anbaa
MP advises Assembly Min. to Hedge His Post by Action
Kuwaiti MP Riyadh Al-Adsani on Tuesday asked Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs Adel Al-Kharafi to "immunize" his post by action against "administrative fraud and political deviation".
Addressing a parliament session on an interpellation against Al-Kharafi, the MP ripped the minister to shreds, claiming that he was handpicked as minister under an "election deal", rather than efficiency and capabilities.
But, he emphasized that his interpellation was only meant to spotlight the minister's failure, alleging that Al-Kharafi "is exercising political recruitment for nothing but to remain in his ministerial post".
Accusing him of nepotism, Al-Adsani said the minister fails to follow up parliament committees' reports and suggestions related to his duty.
Although Al-Kharafi's ministry does not usually have much work, it is involved in wasting a lot of money, the deputy alleged.
Should the minister shrug off relevant parliament queries as "unconstitutional", then MPs will have to grill him directly, Al-Adsani cautioned – KUNA
Kuwaiti lawmakers begin to grill minister on irregularities
Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs Adel Al-Kharafi was questioned by lawmakers on Tuesday, as Kuwait's parliament reconvened for its third regular session of the 15th legislative term.
The grilling of the Kuwaiti minister comes as per a motion filed by legislator Riyadh Al-Adsani last month, chief lawmaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim said in a speech to kick off proceedings on Tuesday.
When asked by Al-Ghanim if he was ready for the interpellation, Al-Kharafi answered in the affirmative, saying he was "prepared to be questioned." Al-Adsani accuses the Kuwaiti minister of seeking parliamentary privilege, in addition to violations related to the state budget.
Meanwhile, Al-Ghanim has ordered the grilling of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah "null and void" after lawmakers Mohmmad Al-Mutair and Shuaib Al-Muwaizri had withdrawn the motion to question him.
If a motion to grill an official is rescinded, it will "automatically be removed from parliament's agenda," Kuwait's top lawmaker explained, revealing that he had received a note from the MPs declaring their intention to nix the procedure -KUNA
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Economy
Kuwaiti oil price up 36 cents to USD 74.91 pb
The price of Kuwait's crude oil went up 36 cents on Monday to stand at USD 74.91 per barrel (Pb) after it was at USD 74.55 pb last Friday, said Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the price of the Brent crude went down 28 cents to settle at USD 77.34 pb, the same case with the West Texas Intermediate which also went down 55 cents to reach USD 67.04 pb - KUNA
Fiber-Optics is one of the Standards of Successful Economy
Minister of State for Housing Affairs and State Minister for Services Affairs, Jenan Bu Shehri declared that telephone switchboards shall be cancelled upon the completion and operation of fiber optics.
Bu Shehri considers that this project is very important for economic development as it is one of the most important assets in the telecom field, and also one of the standards of successful economy due to its considerable ability to transfer information fast.
“ Ministry of Communication set a plan for transforming ground telecom cables from copper cables into fiber optics in three phases, as in 2010, the first phase was operated and it included 28 regions, and the second phase was launched during the ceremony by means of launching telephone services in 34 regions distributed on Al-Jahra, Mubarak Al-Kabeer, Hawally and Ahmadi governorates with a total of 122 thousand residential units equipped with fiber optic services, equal to 55% of the houses in the state.
“The project become one of the top priorities and one of the most important development projects due to its significant role in developing the field of telecom and IT in the State of Kuwait, which shall help in development of various services in the different economic fields as well as in the health, education and e-government”, she added.
“ During this month, a contract is signed with a consultant office that is responsible for studying, designing and preparing documents within two years in order to prepare for offering the project and implementing it in the nearest possible opportunity”, She further added- Al-Rai
Kuwait to Launch 5 New Projects with IAEA
A Kuwaiti official reports offering of five new projects with IAEA for the two consecutive years 2020, 2021.
The Executive Commissioner for International Cooperation and National Telecommunication Officer with the IAEA, Dr. Nader Al-Awadhi indicated that the projects shall be in the fields of oil, environment, nuclear medicine as well as agriculture and water. Al-Awadhi said this on the sidelines of the meeting of reviewing and assessing projects with experts of the IAEA.
Al-Awadhi further clarified that the balance dedicated for the project is estimated to be 600.000 euro ( $ 685 thousand) to be covered by the IAEA.
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He further emphasized that cooperation with the IAEA in view of technical cooperation and establishment of such vital projects has a great role in enhancing human and organizational capabilities and in meeting the local needs in social and economic development, which is in the best interest of Kuwait.
Dr. Seif Al-Dein, Dr. Hamza Al-Bazaz, Dr. Habiba Al-Manei and Shaza Al-Khalaf from KISR and the MOH respectively. This is in addition to the second secretary in Kuwait Embassy to Austria, Ali Al-Wazzan – Al-Rai
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External Affairs
An Efficient and Positive Role of Turkey in the Region: Mohamed Al-Jabry
Minister of Information and State Minister for Youth Affairs, Mohamed Al-Jabry confirmed that the role of Turkey in the region is efficient and positive. He further lauded development of Kuwaiti-Turkish relations in various fields, recalling the visit of President Receb Tayeb Erdogan to Kuwait last November and the consecutive positive results for both countries.
He further recalled decoration of HH the Amir of Kuwait of Turkish State Medal by the Turkish President, Erdogan, and this reflects depth of relations between the two countries.
“Ministry of Information has cooperation protocol with its Turkish counterpart, which has been signed since years, and we shall work to develop it for more cooperation in all fields, especially the information field”, said Al-Jabry in a statement to journalists on the sidelines of his attendance the ceremony of the Turkish Embassy on the occasion of its National Day.
On her part, Turkish Ambassador to Kuwait, Aisha Helal Sian Kuwaitak welcomed many guests, topped by His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed, who attended to congratulate her on the National Day of Turkey, and she emphasized “celebrating this occasion with our community in Kuwait is a source of pride.
She further added that Kuwait has become its second home after the passage of one year of her service in Kuwait.
“Republic of Turkey was established in 1923 and we have witnessed many historical successes during the last 95 years, and Turkey has become a modern and developed state, and building sector in Turkey became one of such successes, as Turkey occupies the second position in this sector. We have also witnessed this year the inauguration of Istanbul new airport, which shall be the biggest airport in the world after completion of all its phases, as it shall accommodate 90 million passengers annually”, she said.- Al-Rai
“Kuwait is a Magnificent Partner”: Canadian Ambassador
Ambassador of Canada to Kuwait, Luis Pier Emun described Canadian-Kuwaiti relations as excellent and developed in all fields, and he expressed his country’s keenness to support and enhance its relations with Kuwait due to its importance as a friend country and a magnificent partner.
“Commercial relations between the two countries are excellent. There are many Canadian corporations that are interested in Kuwait”, said Emun in his statements to journalists on the sidelines of a dinner party in his residence on the occasion of starting his tenure in Kuwait.
He further clarified that he seeks persistently to support and enhance this cooperation. He also remarked that many Kuwaiti students study in Canada, and they find in it a reliable educational destination, and he expressed his hope to see many Canadian students study here in Kuwait.
He indicated that nearly 500 Kuwaiti students of both genders study in Canada, and he confirmed the importance of cultural exchange to create a common ground and reciprocal
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understanding between the two peoples – Al-Rai
One of GCC goals is coordination among security bodies - official
Holding the first coordination meeting of centers and missions of the security sector of the GCC is one of the Member States' major objectives, a GCC official said.
Assistant GCC Secretary General for Security Affairs Major-General Hazza Al-Hajri told KUNA Tuesday, the first coordination meeting of centers and missions of the Security Affairs Sector was held in Kuwait.
The aim of this meeting is to exchange information and achieve strategic objectives of six- member GCC, Al-Hajri added.
He pointed out that the Doha-based Center for Criminal Information and Drug Control highlighted statistics of combating drugs and crime.
The emergency center in Kuwait specialized in all forms of emergencies, and the Abu Dhabi- based Gulf police coordinates with international police, Interpol, and police departments in other continents, he added.
Al-Hajri stressed all these centers aimed at serving strategic objectives and vision of the Secretariat General of the GCC.
He noted there are also more than 20 committees, which specializes in the field of security such as drugs, traffic and security information.
For his part, the Regional Representative of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime for the GCC countries, Judge Hatem Ali said to KUNA, the meeting today discussed how to develop cooperation and partnership in security issues, especially in the fight against organized crime and drugs.
`He noted that the first meeting approved a partnership agreement that will link and define the ways of partnership between GCC countries and UN - KUNA
Kuwait calls to immediate access of humanitarian aids to Rukban camp
Kuwait has called on all parties involved in Syria to immediately facilitate the access of humanitarian aids to Syrians in Rukban refugee camp in Homs province.
This came in a statement delivered by the Permanent Representative of Kuwait to the United Nations, Ambassador Mansour Al-Otaibi, on behalf of the penholders of the Syrian humanitarian file, Sweden and Kuwait, at the UN Security Council Briefing on the humanitarian situation in Syria.
Ambassador Al-Otaibi expressed his thanks to the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mark Lowcock, for his valuable briefing, which confirms the continuing dire humanitarian situation in Syria".
"We support your five asks and call upon all Council members to work vigorously to this end", he continues, paying tribute to all medical and humanitarian workers for their efforts in the
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field to alleviate the suffering in Syria. In the statement, Al-Otaibi focused on the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure and humanitarian access.
Regarding the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, he reaffirmed that all parties must respect and ensure respect for international humanitarian law in all circumstances by protecting civilians and civilian infrastructure. "We call on all parties to respect international human rights law. The period covered by the Secretary-General's report has witnessed killings, arbitrary arrest and detention, deprivation of liberty, abduction, torture, and inhumane, cruel and degrading treatment." "We condemn in the strongest terms these practices against civilians by any party", he explained.
Al-Otaibi welcomed the Russian-Turkish agreement on ceasefire in Idlib - whose population is around 3 million, including 1 million children, which averted the immediate threat of a humanitarian catastrophe there. "We applaud the prepositioning measures taken by the United Nations and its humanitarian partners of humanitarian assistance and food to places in Idlib in preparation for the worst possible situation", he noted.
In this regard, he stressed the importance of the sustainability of the cease-fire in Idlib, and throughout Syria, to enable access to humanitarian assistance and evacuation of injured persons in accordance with international law and as stipulated in resolution 2401 - KUNA
