MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013
LOCAL
‘New stage of cooperation’
Amir leaves for Turkey KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and the delegation accompanying him left here yesterday for the Republic of Turkey on an official visit. He was seen off at the airport by His Highness the deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, National Assembly Speaker
Ali Fahad Al-Rashed, senior sheikhs, His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheik h Jaber AlM u b a r a k A l - H a m a d A l - S a b a h , Fi r s t Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud AlJaber Al-Sabah, Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah
Al-Sabah and senior state officials. The official delegation accompanying HH includes, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid A l- Ham ad A l- Sab ah, Dep ut y Pr ime Minister and Minister of Finance Mustafa Jassem Al-Shamali, M inister of Commerce and Industry Anas Khalid AlSaleh, Head of His Highness the Amir’s
office Ahmad Fahad Al-Fahad, Advisor at the Amiri Diwan Mohammad Abdullah Abulhassan, head of the Amiri Protocols Sheikh Khalid Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah AlNasser Al-Sabah, Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry Khaled Suleiman AlJarallah and senior officials from the Amiri Diwan, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Finance. — KUNA
Amir’s visit to Turkey essential in developing bilateral ties: Gul Cooperation in all domains KUWAIT: Turkish President Abdullah Gul has stressed the importance of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait’s official visit to Turkey in enhancing bilateral ties and promoting cooperation in all domains. “The timing of the visit is crucial in strengthening ties, not only with the State of Kuwait but also with the Gulf Cooperation Council states,” President Gul told local Al-Rai daily published yesterday.This will be the fifth visit made by the Amir to Turkey in the past five years. The Turkish president also made similar visits to the Gulf state. “These visits are an indication of the solid ties between Kuwait and Turkey in the political, economic, and security domains.” President Gul noted that the trade vol-
ume between the two countries has reached $600 million in recent years. Kuwaiti investments are numerous. They can be seen through the establishment of Kuwaiti banks such as Kuwait Finance House and Burgan Bank. Kuwaiti investors also own some major commercial centers in Turkey, he added. On tourism, meanwhile, President Gul emphasized that the number of Kuwaiti tourists to Turkey has jumped to 70,000 recently. Turkey has changed some of its constitutional regulations to allow nonTurkish citizen to own and purchase properties. “We want Turkey to feel like a second home for Kuwaitis,” President Gul continued. He directed part of his interview with
the local paper to Syria where he reiterated that the “crisis needs to end.” Bashar AlAssad regime should step aside to open a path for democracy, he said. On the US claims that the Syrian regime had used chemical arms against its people, the Turkish President commented that his country is against the use of chemical or mass destruction weapons in the region. “It should be known to everyone that we will not be tolerant to such actions.” He noted that there are some 300,000 Syrian refugees in Turkey. He also thanked Kuwait’s support of the $360 million that went to setting up a refugee camp for the Syrians in Turkey. “It shows Kuwait’s empathy towards the Syrian crisis.”
President Gul also shed light, during his sit-down with the daily, on the Turkey-Israel reconciliation talks and its ripple-effect on common issues in the Middle East, especially that of the Palestinians. He noted that “resuming ties with Israel is conditioned...Turkey only wants permanent peace in the region where the Palestinians are granted an independent statehood.” His wish for peace in the region also extended the instability caused by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party rebels in his country. The Kurds fighters are hindering the improvement of ties with Iraq, he noted. “We only want to minimize this problem... we only want stability in Iraq.” — KUNA
Arab ministers approve NA panel discusses issue of conscription Kuwaiti proposal BEIRUT: The conferees at the 36th session of the Arab Youth and Spor ts Ministers Council, held here yesterday, endorsed a Kuwaiti proposal to reach out to Arab youth through inviting their representatives to attend all Arab ministerial meetings to listen to their ambitions, concerns and initiatives as well as to involve them in the decision-making process. “The Arab Ministerial Council has approved Kuwaiti proposal for direct interaction with this category in the society that need great attention and support,” participating Kuwait’s Public Authority for Youth and Sport Chairman Major General Faisal Al-Jazzaf said. He also unveiled that Kuwait has backed a proposal to increase financial support for youth in the Syrian refugee camps in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq to be channeled through the Arab Fund for Youth and Sports Activities. “Kuwait is keen on aiding displaced Syrians to alleviate their sufferings,” AlJazzaf said. The Council has also agreed on raising the Arab Fund for Youth and Sports Activities’ financial aid to Arab sports tournaments, outlining new ambitious strategies for the Executive Office and technical committees of the Arab Youth and Sports Ministers Council to live up to the aspirations of the Arab youth. The Kuwaiti delegation, led by AlJazzaf, invited the Arab countries to take part in the Arab Youth Festival which will be held in Kuwait next October. For his part, Kuwait’s Deputy General Director of Spor ts Affairs Humoud Felatah said that Kuwait is paying great attention to youth and Kuwaiti leadership is exerting strenuous efforts to empower youth and adopt ambitious plans to increase their role in the society. The conferees have expressed great appreciation of Kuwait’s pioneering efforts in developing youth programs
and activities at home and in the Arab region, Felatah said. The 36th session of the Arab Youth and Sports Ministers Council kicked off here yesterday with the participation of 19 Arab countries. Kuwait is presented in the meeting with the Public Authority for Youth and Sport Chairman Maj Gen Faisal Al-Jazzaf. In her speech, the Arab League Assistant Secretary General for Social Affairs Ambassador Faeqa Al-Saleh urged the Arab ministers to invite youth committees to a special meeting for putting forward a package of youthrelated projects for deliberation and study. Al-Saleh pointed out the endorsed projects should be referred to the next Ministerial Council’s session in Tunisia for final approval as well as to the Arab Economic and Social Council to put them on the agenda of the upcoming Arab development summit. Meanwhile Chairman of the Executive Office of the Council, Egyptian Minister of State for Sports Affairs ElAmry Farouk tackled the main challenges facing Arab youth such the growing unemployment, addiction and crime. He stressed that the need to support Arab sports to expand its positive impact on youth and role in the society. For his part, President of Saudi Youth Welfare Authority and Chairman of the Arab National Olympic Committees Federation Prince Nawaf bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz, called for developing youth programs and activities that suit youth requirements and visions. He asser ted that the Arab youth should take part in choosing and outlining youth programs in their countries. The Lebanese Minister of Youth and Sports Faisal Karami called for empowering Arab youth, particularly females and those with special needs. “We have to recognize youth as full partners in the process of society and state building and development.” —KUNA
KUWAIT: Parliamentary committee on interior and defense affairs discussed yesterday a draft law on conscription in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Ahmad AlKhaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. Committee Rapporteur MP Abdullah alTamimi said in a statement after the meeting that the Minister of Defense asked the Committee to speed up discussion of the draft law on conscription, adding that the committee asked for some time in order to resolve the shortcomings of the previous law, which was discontinued since the year 2001. Al-Tamimi pointed out that the defense minister and his accompanying delegation presented their perception about modifying the new law that was forwarded to the committee since 2009, indicating that it was agreed to hold several meetings to discuss the law and its amendments. Meanwhile, the parliamentary financial and economic affairs committee discussed in its meeting yesterday the amendments made by the MPs and the government on the bill of commercial licenses. Committee Chairman MP Dr. Yousef Al-
Zalzalah said in a press statement after the meeting that a series of amendments concerning the sanctions imposed on the many people who commit minor offenses but their sentences were too big, adding that the committee “agreed with the government to lift these sanctions.” The MP explained in the same context that the committee agreed with the government to put these strict penalties for crimes pertinent to rotten meat and the use of the license for the detriment of the country and the public interest. In another development, the central apparatus for dealing with illegal residents is determined to solve all problems facing the families of illegal residents in Kuwait, a top official said here on Sunday. The head of the central apparatus for dealing with illegal residents Saleh AlFadhalah made remarks during a meeting here today with Eritrean non-resident Ambassador to Kuwait Mohammad Omar Mahmoud. The two sides discussed the efforts by the central apparatus and Eritrean authorities to find solutions for issues regarding illegal residents, he said. —- KUNA
Moroccan minister visits Kuwait KUWAIT:The Kuwaiti Minister of Information, Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem AlHumoud Al-Sabah received yesterday Moroccan Minister of Communications Mustafa Al-Khalfi, who arrived on a visit upon official invitation to attend the 10th Arab Media Forum held in Kuwait. Sheik Salman Al-Humoud said Al-Khalfi is most welcome in Kuwait, praising his participation in the forum to discuss various media issues that contribute to improving Arab media capabilities. Kuwaiti-Moroccan bilateral ties are distinguished and deep-rooted thanks to the wisdom of the political leadership in both states, headed by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and King Mohammed VI of Morocco, the
minister added. The Moroccan minister for his part noted that, ìThis visit is a great opportunity to discuss cooperation between the two nations in various fields ... most importantly the information and media domain, as well as issues of new media formats and platforms.î This visit comes to bolster and boost cooperation in the fields of media and culture between the two countries, which is already a model for the region, Al-Khalfi stated. The Arab Media Forum is a great chance for Arab media figures to communicate and cooperate, especially during this critical period, in order to enhance their capabilities to face various challenges and enhance the values of responsibility and freedom in the field, the Moroccan minister said. — KUNA
ANKARA: A Turkish lawmaker stated yesterday that His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah’s visit to his country is to crown a news stage of close bilateral cooperation in all areas. MP Emrullah Isler of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) said that mutual visits are very important for furthering bilateral relations. His Highness the Amir’s visit to Turkey comes to lend support to efforts in this area amid rapid transformations across the region, he said. Isler stressed the Amir’s visit is particularly important in view of the agreements to be singed, aimed to bolster cooperation in all domains. He indicated this visit is to yield as important agreements as the Amir’s first visit, back in 2008. Furthermore, the parliamentarian affirmed that the planned agreements fall into many domains, including the high-tech defensive industries sector in Turkey. This area is to be of particular focus. Agreements were initially planned to be discussed during a visit to Kuwait by the Turkish Chief of General Staff last week. However, personal engagements prevented the official from going on with the visit as planned. The Turkish MP also pointed out that the focus of his country’s foreign policy in the last ten years shifted to strengthening relations with countries within its region, particularly the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. He went further to mention that Kuwait has an important status in Turkey’s foreign policy. He also noted the considerable developments in relations since the AKP party took power in 2002. Isler noted that Turkish-Kuwaiti ties started with the opening of Turkish Embassy in Kuwait in 1971, but only saw dramatic development through the signing of agreements during mutual visits, particularly on economic, political, and cultural levels. Moreover, the Turkish lawmaker listed some of Turkey’s achievements on political and economic levels, which he said were recognized and met with interest on the part of Kuwait. This, he added, reflected positively on TurkishKuwaiti ties, on both official and non-official levels. On economic relations, Isler said Kuwait had determined its initial investment goals since 2005, placing Turkey among the countries of particular interest. This was reflected in a direct flow of Kuwaiti capital into the Turkish market. The lawmaker said Kuwaiti companies have remarkable investments in real estate, retailing, and industrial and banking sectors in Turkey, as well as interests in the privatization processes, launched lately by the Turkish government. On Turkish-Kuwaiti annual trade volume, Isler said that despite increasing growth in trade volume, which amounted to $700 million in 2012, it still falls short of the aspired level that matches the level of ties between the two nations. In the same context, he indicated that his country’s crude oil imports from Kuwait came to $133.3 million in 2011. The imports also included organic chemical material, plastic products, and oils and lubricants. Turkey meanwhile exported food products, fabrics, electric appliances, carpets, and vehicles to Kuwait. On the new Turkish foreign policy, Isler said it concentrates on strengthening ties with countries not only on official level, but also on popular level through cultural, media, academic, and athletic events. He noted tourism exchange a “main starting point” to stronger integration. Exchanged visits are vital for improving bilateral relations, Isler continued, recalling the visit of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Kuwait back in 2011, along with a delegation that consisted of Turkish businessmen. The visit, he recalled, was received with great interest on both official and non-official levels in both countries. — KUNA
News
in brief
Grant for bedoons KUWAIT: A Member of Parliamentary Human Rights Committee, Abdelrahman Al-Jeeran, said granting KD 150 every three months to needy bedoons was not enough. He called for “boosting the role of Zakat House and urging companies to share the burden of the House’s budget. He said granting bedoons a reward worth KD 330, as proposed by human rights committee, was still under discussions, and that the Zakat House asked for a budget in order to grant the said reward. Man denies parenthood In a strange turn of events, a newborn was registered and named after a man his mother divorced, even though a DNA test conducted during pregnancy proved that he was not the father, security sources said. Case papers indicated that a citizen had caught a Syrian from inside his house and realized he had been having an affair with his wife, a compatriot of his. The husband informed the police and the two lovers were arrested. Since the woman was pregnant at the time, the husband demanded that a DNA test be conducted. The test showed that the fetus was not his. The citizen added that five years after the divorce, he received a letter from the interior ministry requesting to add the child to his file. Contract terminated The Ministry of Education terminated its contract with a food company after receiving information from the Ministry of Health that crucially revealed that the place where meals were being prepared lacked adequate facilities. Also, the place was very small compared to the number of meals, estimated at 4500 meals a day. The Ministry also found that the company was located in the industrial area of Sabhan, where central kitchens were banned.Based on a report from the Ministr y of Health Undersecretary, Dr Khalid Al-Sahlawi, to Ministry of Education Undersecretary Mariam Al-Wutaid, company’s meal samples were recorded and sent to the Ministry of Health labs. The results revealed that the meals were not fit for human consumption as there were harmful bacteria in them. Role of mayor The National Assembly Secretary, MP Kamel AlAwadhi, said the proposal to amend the mayor’s law was submitted to activate the role of the mayor in recognition of the importance of the office. He said the proposal will allow women to enter the field if they succeeded in politics. Al-Awadhi said the proposal he presented was now with the legislative committee for study. He said the mayor would be elected for a four year term, and there would be no limit on the number of terms.He said the mayor must be from the area from which he or she contests since that way any aspirant for the office would be aware of the people and their concerns.