December 2nd, 2020
News Summary Report
External Affairs
Kuwait Sets Consensus Formula That Will Lead to Settling the GCC Crisis Diplomatic sources at the Egyptian Capital expected an imminent settlement of the GCC diplomatic row with the approaching GCC Summit by the end of this month, which will be headed by Bahrain.
Sources disclosed that since His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf assumed office, Kuwait has been actively intermediating to reach convergence of views between the boycotting countries (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kingdom of Bahrain and Egypt) on the one hand, and Qatar on the other hand.
Sources pointed out to holding a series of meetings between foreign ministers in Kuwait where Kuwait sets a consensus formula that was welcomed by the five countries and this ensures an imminent settlement.
Sources said the US White House senior adviser Jared Kushner to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to Qatar this week along with Mideast envoy Avi Berkowitz and former special representative for Iran, Brian Hook, will try to negotiate with Gulf leaders over the dispute, and this will expedite settlement prior to departure of President Trump of the White House.
Meanwhile, a senior official at the US administration said that during the visit, Kushner will meet the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Ben Salman in the Saudi city of Neom, and the emir of Qatar in that country in Doha in the coming days.
Saudi is intensifying its efforts at present to settle the GCC crisis in an attempt to gain support of the President-elect Joe Biden’s administration, Financial Times newspaper quoted from informed sources.
The talks are “gift for Biden”, quoted the newspaper the statement of one of the advisors of Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
The advisor added to the US newspaper that “the Saudi and UAE leaders would like to mitigate the attacks of “Al-Jazeera Channel” released in Arabic on Saudi Arabia.
“ Saudi leaders were open to settle this issue several months ago. They’ve worked for some time to close many simmering issues, including this” said Saudi Analyst Ali Al-Shehabi, who is close to the Royal Diwan to the US newspaper.
He added that Trump’s administration is concerned that this diplomatic row may weaken the Arab alliance that the US sought to form against Iran. The US is frustrated because Iran is benefitting financially since eruption of this diplomatic dispute as air embargo to and from Qatar gives opportunity to use the Iranian air space.
The newspaper conveyed the statement of a diplomat who is informed of the talks that the latest talks between the USA and Kuwait aim to pave the way for direct negotiations between Riyadh and Doha.
According to the newspaper, Qatar wants to ensure that there are some pre- conditions prior to any bilateral talks, and such conditions may include the procedures of building trust, including lifting of air embargo and allowing freedom of Qatari citizens from and to the countries that imposed the embargo even if Doha requested some guarantees on their safety.
Al-Seyassa
GCC Secretary General Lauds Kuwait Vision for Developing Security Cooperation
The Deputy Prime Minister, Interior Minister and State Minister for the Cabinet Affairs Anas Al-Saleh received at his office at the headquarters of the Interior Ministry yesterday the Secretary-General of the GCC Council Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf.
Al-Saleh welcomed Al-Hajraf, and commended the role exerted by the General Secretary of the GCC Council in enhancing joint GCC work, especially in the security field, and in following up implementation of the decisions of the leaders of the GCC countries.
During the meeting, the exerted efforts for enhancing coordination and integration among the GCC countries, especially in the security fields and in developing the joint GCC work pursuant to the instructions of the leaders of the GCC Council.
Al-Hajraf lauded the efforts undertaken by the Ministry of Interior to keep security and stability all over Kuwait.
Al-Rai
The UAE Accomplished Significant Achievements: HH the Amir
His Highness the Amir, and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishaal Al- Ahmad received separately at Bayan Palace yesterday His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad.
His Highness the Amir sent a cable of congratulations to President of the UAE Sheikh Khalifa Ben Zayed, where he expressed his congratulations on the 49th anniversary of the sisterly country. His Highness used this national and historical opportunity, which connects Kuwait and the UAE to laud the UAE and the development achievements, which contributed to enhancing the rank of the sisterly country.
His Highness hoped for the UAE leader all health and more progress and prosperity for the UAE in view of the wise leadership.
His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad and Speaker of the National Assembly Marzouq Al-Ghanem sent similar cables.
Al-Qabas
Domestic Affairs
The “Domestic Labor Plan” Paves the Way for Return of Expats
Return of domestic labor from abroad, which will be implanted next Monday will optimize opportunities of lifting the ban on return of expats from all categories.
General Manager of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Yousef Al-Fouzan emphasized that success of the plan of return of domestic labor as a primary stage will lead us to other stages of return of the remaining expat categories in an organized way in cooperation with the concerned government authorities, and in cooperation with the private sector.
Al-Fouzan pointed out that the plan that will be implemented next Monday will save costs on the sponsor, who desires to return his domestic labor to Kuwait directly rather than staying in a transit country for 14 days.
The number of expats, who are holders of Article 20 and are out of Kuwait is 80192, including 50823 from the Indian nationality, 9769 from the Philippine, 9758 from Bangladesh, 4196 from Sri-Lanka and the remaining from different other nationalities.
Al-Fouzan said that the return plan is divided into two key parts: The first one is a technical part that is related to the procedures of registering entry, however, the second part is technical and financial, which is concerned with quarantine since exit of the laborer from Kuwait International Airport, his transfer to quarantine dedicated residence, and all logistic services and required medical checks as per the provisions of the Ministry of Health.
Further, he pointed out that the logistic services include provision of administration, security, services, transportation, 3 PCR tests, 3 meals and a residence for 14 days in one housing. He disclosed that 58 residential buildings are available, and they include all public services related to quarantine for males and females.
Meanwhile, DGCA the acting deputy manager for the airport affairs Saleh Al- Fadaghi said that negotiations have been made with National Company (NAS) to provide the services as it is agreed to drop the costs from KD 550 to 270 per person.
He stated that the National Aviation Companies (Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways) provided competitive prices less than the prices presented at the air aviation market.
Al-Rai
KD 11 mln Fines on Deferred Contracts Companies: Ministry of Electricity In light of the efforts that aim to control conditions, protect the public funds and hold delinquent people accountable, official sources disclosed that the Ministry of Electricity and Water imposed this year deferred payment fines on companies and contractors’ contracts with a total of KD 11 million, which is the biggest sum imposed by the Ministry on the contractors in one year.
Sources said to Al-Qabas that the reports of the State Audit Bureau requests from the ministry several years ago that it is necessary to impose contractual fines on some deferred contracts, however, the ministry didn’t show any action unless at the beginning of last year as it monitored all deferred contracts.
Sources pointed out that Minister of Electricity and Water Dr. Khaled Al-Fadhel referred since last year a number of leaders at the ministry to the Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) and “leaders Disciplinary Authority” at the Civil Service Commission due to violations and financial breaches in some contracts.
Meanwhile, Al-Fadhel issued a ministerial decree of establishing environment monitoring department at the Ministry of Electricity and Water, which aims to set a system for environmental monitoring on all the works and activities undertaken by the ministry to handle all negative effects on the environment, and to enhance commitment to the law of protecting the environment and its executive regulations.
Al-Qabas
In Kuwait, lavish election campaign events off the menu
Lavish banquets served in opulent marquees are nowhere to be seen this election season in oil-rich Kuwait, where the coronavirus pandemic has forced a ban on traditional over-the-top campaign events.
Lambs on spits, mountains of rice, and platters of sweets usually attract hordes of potential voters to campaign events in the small Gulf state, which holds parliamentary elections on Saturday.
Unlike its more authoritarian neighbors, Kuwait has a dynamic political life with an active parliament that doesn't hesitate to take the government to task. Its election campaigns are equally lively -- in normal years.
In elections past, Fahd Mohammed Al-Moutairi used to organize feasts for half a dozen candidates, all aiming to impress voters with their generosity, in his restaurant
"Tayba", located north of the capital Kuwait City.
"We usually prepare grilled lamb and rice for dinners during the campaign that can
run for up to two months. But the coronavirus blew it all away," he told AFP.
The loss of business is another blow to restaurateurs who suffered during months of lockdown to stem the spread of the virus in Kuwait, which has registered more than 142,000 infections and nearly 900 deaths.
Campaign events can cost between 3,000 and 7,000 Kuwaiti dinars (about
$10,000-23,000), and draw as many 2,000 guests in the country's tribal regions, according to the Kuwaiti Federation of Restaurants.
Along with restaurants, companies that organize banquets under large tents, serving coffee and dates to voters, will be the big losers in this campaign, said the association's director, Fahd al-Arbach.
The Economic Times
Economy
Min. Al-Fadhel Commends “Ehsimha” Rationing Project
Kuwait’s Minister of Oil and Minister of Electricity and Water Dr. Khaled Al-Fadhel said the power and water rationing project ‘ehsimha’ offers incentives for consumers.
“The project entitles consumers to discounts on their monthly bills through comparing their rationed electricity and water consumption to the levels of the whole year”, he told KUNA on Tuesday after launching the project.
“The Ministry of Electricity and Water constantly improves services for its consumers and works to curb extravagant consumption as per Article 2 of Act 20/2016, which entitles consumers to discounts on their pay bills, “ the minister pointed it.
In addition to contributing to the rationing of consumption, ehsima will help reduce the costs of fuel and increase revenues through encouraging the consumers to pay their debt arrears, he went on.
Dr. Al-Fadhel advised consumers to visit the ministry’s website to get more information on the project.
KUNA
Kuwait Oil Price up 38 Cents to $ 47.26 pb – KPC
The price of Kuwaiti oil went up by 38 cents to $ 47.26 per barrel (pb) on Tuesday, after it was at $ 46.88 pb the day before, said Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) Wednesday.
Globally, the price of Brent crude went down by 46 cents to $ 47.42 pb, the same with the West Texas Intermediate, which decreased by 79 cents to $ 44.55 pb.
KUNA
Kuwait Needs an Oil Barrel Price Reaching 64$
Capital Economics optimized its expectations for the world economic growth in 2021 to 6.8% remarking that the oil prices will rise significantly to $ 60 pb by the end of 2021.
Dominick Dadly, a specialist in Mideast Affairs at the Economic Magazine said that the price of oil barrel $60 is 24% higher than the present prices of the crude, however, it is still much less than desired by oil producers in the Middle East to achieve the equilibrium prices in their budgets.
He remarked that pursuant to the IMF, Algeria, Libya and Oman need oil prices higher than $ 100 pb to achieve the equilibrium prices in its budgets. Further, Bahrain also needs oil price to reach $ 83, however Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait and Iraq need oil prices to reach between $ 64 and 68 pb to achieve equilibrium in their budgets. However, only Qatar is the only country that is capable of achieving equilibrium without oil price reaching $ 60.
He added that late manufacturing of the vaccines might undermine revival of the economies of the Middle East.
Al-Qabas
Sources:
KUNA - https://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2942397 Al-Rai - https://www.alraimedia.com/
Al-Qabas - https://alqabas.com/
Al-Anbaa - https://www.alanba.com.kw/newspaper/
Al-Jareeda - https://www.aljarida.com/
Al-Seyassa - https://www.alseyassahonline.com/
Arab Times - http://www.arabtimesonline.com/news/1st-dec-6/
