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Sun - Oct 13 - 2019
News Summary Report
EXTERNAL RELATIONS
Arab League Chief Calls on Turkey to Withdraw from Syria
Cairo, Oct. 12 (KUNA) – Arab League Secretary, General Ahmed Aboul Gheit on Saturday called on Turkey to “immediately and completely” cease all military operations and withdraw its forces from Syrian territories.
Aboul Gheit made his remarks at the Arab League emergency meeting on Turkey’s offensive in Syria. He held Turkey full responsible for the humanitarian and security consequences of this “dangerous aggression”, “terming Turkey’s military operation in northeast Syria as an “invasion of an Arab state’s land and an aggression on its sovereignty”.
He stressed that Syria is an Arab state and a founding member of the League of Arab States. Aboul Gheit further said that attacking Syria is a threat to the Arab security, noting that the Turkish aggression aims to cut off an area of Syrian territory with a depth of up to 32 kilometers and a length of more than 400 kilometers, “seeking to uproot the population of these lands and replace them with Syrian refugees”. According to Aboul Gheit, some 300,000 people in risk of becoming refugees in the coming days because of Turkey’s actions, warning of potential ethnic cleansing and genocide of the Kurds in this region.
He said that Turkey also seeks to change the local demographics in this area, expressing concerns over the fate of the Syrian refugees in Turkey.
Earlier today, Arab foreign ministers held a closed-door consultative before the start of the emergency meeting to discuss the Turkish aggression on Syria.
Kuwait’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al- Hamad Al-Sabah headed the delegation to the meeting.
KUNA
“We Are Not Informed of Pulling out US Forces from the Region”: Kuwait Mr. Khaled Al-Jarallah, the Deputy Foreign Minister denied the claims that US to pull out its forces from the region.
Al-Jarallah confirmed that Kuwait wasn’t informed of any intention of pulling out or even reducing the number of forces.
“The Turkish military operations in Syria complicate conditions and increase escalation and tension. Moreover, they are direct threat to security and stability in the region and they undermine opportunities for peace to reach a political solution to the crisis in Syria”, Said Al-Jarallah in a press statement on the sidelines of his participation at the ceremony of the Spanish Embassy to Kuwait of its National Day last Thursday.
“We were optimistic that the international envoy reached to forming the Constitutional Committee and that Committee shall undertake its works, and that practical and significant political steps are underway. However, we think that what happened will exacerbate the situation and will increase suffering of the Syrian people. This will also represent a direct threat to the sovereignty, independence, unity and safety of Syria”, he added.
“Kuwait has not talked with the Turkish side in this issue”, said Al-Jarallah when asked whether there is communication between Kuwait and Turkey regarding this issue, especially that Kuwait has good bilateral relations with Turkey.
Further, Al-Jarallah said that Kuwait enjoys distinguished and good relations with friends in Turkey.
As for the prospective visit of the Russian President, Vladimir Putin to the region and the future of GCC-Russian relations, Al-Jarallah confirmed that the future of this relation is promising.
He remarked that Russia enjoys distinguished relations with all countries of the region, “and we look with optimism and comfortableness to the visit President Putin to the region.”
“We think that this visit will contribute to developing and enhancing Russian- GCC relations, especially that the region and the whole world pass in critical
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coordination with President Putin, it will be a great opportunity for both sides”, he added.
As for the latest incidents and protests in Iraq, and whether Kuwait has interfered to calm down conditions by communicating with some religious leaders and Iraqi sides, Al-Jarallah said that there is a strong trust of the Iraqi government to control such incidents and to deal positively with the requests of protesters. Al-Jarallah denied that Kuwait interfered. “the Kuwaiti approach is known. We never interfere in the internal affairs of any country”, he said.
When asked whether such incidents will affect Kuwait and its borders, Al-Jarallah said that Kuwait is secured and preparations of Kuwaiti security forces are excellent. Stability of Iraq will surely affect not only Iraq but the whole region as well”, he said.
As for Kuwait’s message to Iran to reduce tension in the region, Al-Jarallah confirmed that “the Kuwaiti message is always clear, and we always reiterate it:
we call for dialogue and to reduce tension, and we call all parties to be committed to dialogue”.
Al-Jareeda, P03
Kuwaiti FM Discusses with Jordanian Counterpart Bilateral Ties
Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah met Saturday with Jordan’s Foreign Minister, Ayman Al- Safadi at the headquarters of the Arab League in Cairo.
The two sides on the sidelines of the Arab League’s meeting at the ministerial level in its extraordinary session to discuss Turkish military interventions in northeastern Syria discussed the distinguished bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries.
The meeting was attended by Assistant Foreign Minister for Arab Affairs Ambassador Fahad Al-Awadhi, Assistant Foreign Minister for the Office of Deputy Prime Minister and Acting Foreign Minister Saleh Al-Loghani and Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the Arab League Ahmad Al-Bakr.
KUNA
ECONOMY
The PAI and the EPA Blame Each Other on “ Erhia Tires
The Two Authorities Dispute on Interpretation of the Cabinet Resolution
Government disputes regarding the responsibility of removing used tires in Erhia region in South Saad Al-Abdullah pop up again as the Public Authority for Industry (the PAI) insists on its claim that this issue belongs to the Environment Public Authority (EPA), however, the latter confirms that its role is only exclusive to just “coordination and control”.
Informed sources told Al-Jareeda newspaper that both bodies held a meeting last week to examine the dispute, remarking that the PAI quoted the Cabinet’s Resolution as an evidence for its claim, however, the EPA confirmed that the same resolution didn’t assign it the responsibility of tires’ removal, but it only assigned it the responsibility of supervision and coordination between the PAI and the Public Authority for Housing Welfare (the PAHW) as well as Kuwait Municipality.
Sources pointed out that this meeting didn’t reach a decision on whom shall bear the responsibility of tires’ removal as each party insists on its own interpretation of the Cabinet Resolution.
It is worth mentioning that the Cabinet Resolution sets forth assigning the EPA the responsibility of supervision of damaged and used tires’ sites, and coordination with the PAI as well as other entities to take what it deems appropriate, and to issue the necessary licenses to factories that undertake cutting and processing of used tires. It is also responsible, as per the Cabinet Resolution for setting suitable motivational programs that encourage tires’ removal as per environment provisions.
Moreover, the Cabinet Resolution assigned the EPA the responsibility of coordination with the Municipality, the PAHW, and the PAI to transport the gathered tires from Erhia and Al-Salmi sites, and the Municipality is assigned the responsibility of taking the necessary procedures to find a site with suitable area in order to compile all used tires in it.
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$ 3 Billion Foreign Investment Flows to Boursa Kuwait
Boursa Kuwait anticipates new foreign investments to the market whose value reaches $ 900 million (nearly $ 3 billion) in the form of non-active investments, especially after meeting provisions of promotion to MSCI indicator for emerging markets, which is expected by next December.
An official source told Al-Anbaa newspaper that currently there is cooperation between three entities, including Capital Markets Authority, Boursa Kuwait and Kuwait Clearance Company to implement all actions and procedures that are necessary to meet provisions of promotion to MSCI indicator.
Al-Anbaa
DOMESTIC AFFAIRS
MP Al-Saleh joins his colleagues against implementation of taxes
MP Khaleel Al-Saleh added his voice to the voice of his colleagues who are against the implementation of taxes saying any government move in this direction will increase the burden on citizens.
He stressed on the importance of financial reforms instead of using the people as a cover for government follies. He stated, in spite of the government institutions talking of the need to improve the status of Kuwaiti employees and said nothing has been done in this regard and there is nothing to indicate in terms of a future plan to address the issue.
The MP pointed out that the minister has recently confirmed that the Public Institute for Social Security (PIFSS) is suffering because of low salaries paid to its employees, while other ministers agree that there is a dire need to increase the number of social workers. Therefore, the MP has called on all concerned official and the minister to work to solve the problems which the authorities have acknowledged.
He wonders why the government continues to neglect these issues. In a bid to increase transparency, MP Osama Al-Shaheen, has proposed that the government annually all financial statistics complete with detailed reports of financial operations throughout the fiscal year. He said this should be published on the website of the Government Secretariat General and on all Government social media accounts.
In another development, the chairman of the Human Resources Development committee of the National Assembly, MP Mohammed Al-Dallal disclosed the responses of the Minister on Commerce and Industry Mariam Al-Aqeel to his queries on increasing the job opportunities for Kuwaitis in the private sector was insufficient and in some part obscure.
Therefore, he has submitted another set of queries to the minister regarding the alleged government plan for nationalizing several job descriptions in the private sector. Additionally, the MP used his position as chairman of the committee to request all relevant statistics on the manpower in every sector of the country,
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especially the private sector regardless of the nationalities. He noted that increasing the number of Kuwaitis in the private sector is vital. He also asked for clarifications on the government’s efforts in combating unemployment and its policies in employing expats in both the public and private sector.
Arab Times
KNPC eyes ‘precautionary’ measures to secure oil refineries, gas pipelines Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) has embarked on precautionary measures to secure the oil refineries and gas pipelines from risks of the incoming winter season, reports Al-Nahar daily quoting sources.
The same sources added the company is working hard to avoid the repetition of problems that occurred in the past to disrupt operations, which sometimes led to suspension of operations in some refinery units.
Currently, Kuwait has two oil refineries in Mina Ahmadi and Mina Abdullah, which are owned by the government through Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC). The two refineries produce 700 thousand barrels of oil daily, and they’re expected to increase production to 800 thousand barrels per day after the biofuel project becomes operational.
Arab Times
No one above law, no place for ‘wasta’, abuse of authority – Interior Minister Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Lt Gen Khaled Al-Jarrah championed the authority of the law in the State of institution, and affirmed that
“No one is above the law; everyone is equal in the eyes of the law;
The law is enforced on everyone with the same standard”, reports Al-Seyassah daily. Lt Gen Al-Jarrah said this after receiving in his office Lt Col Saleh Al- Rashid from the General Traffic Department who was offended as a result of his refusal to accomplish an illegal transaction.
“There is no place for ‘wasta’ or abuse of authority or even favoritism for any person irrespective of their position, prestige or social status, and we stand firm against the mistreatment of personnel for doing their job”, Sheikh Al-Jarrah explained. He also expressed appreciation and pride to all personnel of the
Interior Ministry for being the watchful eyes of the country, and also praised Lt.
Col. Al-Rashid who presented an ideal example of sincerity and commitment to work, and discipline in abiding by law and dealing with situation in a civilized and tolerant manner.
Arab Times Sources:
KUNA: http://www.kuna.net.kw/Default.aspx?language=en
Al Rai: http://www.alraimedia.com/
Kuwait Times: http://www.news.kuwaittimes.net/website/
Arab Times: http://www.arabtimesonline.com/news/
MEED: http://www.meed.com/
Al Anbaa: http://www.alanba.com.kw/newspaper
Al-Seyassa : http://al-seyassah.com/
Al-Anbaa: https://www.alanba.com.kw/newspaper/
Al-Jareeda: http://www.aljarida.com/
