Sunday, May 16, 2010
NATIONAL
3 Stage set for more agreements
Amiri visit to cement Kuwait-Jordan ties AMMAN: The visit of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to Jordan, set for tomorrow, is “historic” and will further boost relations between the two countries, said Kuwaiti Ambassador Sheikh Faisal Al-Humoud AlMalek Al-Sabah yesterday. The ambassador highlighted the great development in Kuwaiti-Jordanian relations in recent years, under the directive of the leaderships of the two countries. He said that agreements were expected to be signed soon, aimed at boosting cooperation in different areas and to benefit from Jordanian expertise in the academic and health sectors.
KUWAIT: The Kuwait Autism Center recently welcomed an Albanian delegation that visited Kuwait in order to benefit from the country’s experience in this field, which it will make use of in an autism center that is shortly to be constructed in Albania.
Evaluation of census systems ‘important’ KUWAIT: Evaluating GCC census and statistics gathering systems would help in addressing the weak and strong points of such systems, leading to a unified procedure in collecting data in the region, said an official here yesterday. Head of the Kuwaiti Central Census Department, Abdullah Sahar, said in the opening meeting of the GCC Committee for Undersecretaries and Heads of Census Departments that gathering data through statistics would aid in the GCC states’ social and economic development, adding that
addressing the problems facing such procedures of gathering information was a must. Lack of coordination amongst apparatus carrying on the statistics gathering is one of the weaknesses that faced such procedures, said Sahar. The 2010 census is an important step on the international scale, noted Sahar, saying that the reason for that was the census was supporting the International Census Program (ICP) of 2010. He also noted that the GCC Supreme Council agreed in its 22nd session in Muscat
kuwait digest
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bdullatif Al-Duaij, in his column with Al-Qabas yesterday, wrote on how the royal family has always promised to curb the influence of a religious direction in the country. He pointed out that the statements of the ruling family have yet to be transferred into action and that some in the ruling family have been affected by this influence. He added that the most recent example of this issue is the inclusion of a clause in the privatization law by which the privatization process is to be done according to Islamic regulations. ‘The main issue that should be taken into account is that the laws and the constitution should not be subject to the whims of religious extremists in Kuwait,’ he wrote. ‘They continue to maneuver and make media and political gains to help them spread their influence. This damages people’s rights. This happens while the Cabinet submits to their wishes,’ he added. ‘Their actions fool the public into believing that their efforts are for the benefit of the country and its economy. However, no economic reform should be made at the expense of the general system, constitution or people’s rights,’ he asserted. Al-Duaij pointed out that privatization ‘according to Islamic regulations’ means that each person who does not believe in the Salafi or an Islamic approach to business will have their rights violated. This further violates a citizen’s democratic right to the freedom of diversity, he argued. ‘The Cabinet struggled to pass the privatization law, but with the help of Islamic influence the law seems well on its way to being enforced. To what purpose though? Only time will tell,’ he concluded.
in the news MP condemns MAIA ruling KUWAIT: MP Khalid Al-Adwa has slammed the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs’ (MAIA) recent decision rejecting graduates from Jordanian and Bahraini universities for prosecutors’ posts. AlAdwa said that the decision disregarded the affected applicants’ abilities and suitable academic qualifications, while favoring less qualified graduates from Kuwaiti and Sharia universities, reported Al-Watan. In a press release, the MP questioned the reasoning behind the ministry’s decision, especially, he said, since it benefited the graduates of certain universities in certain countries rather than those from others. He called on His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah to intervene and resolve the issue, and “restore justice to law and Sharia school students.” Jassem case delayed KUWAIT: Prominent Kuwaiti writer Mohammad Al-Jassem’s health has worsened due to his continuing hunger strike, according to his lawyer. Al-Jassem, who is in custody facing three charges related to state security, was recently questioned at the Public Prosecution office, reported Al-Qabas. The questioning had to be cut short, however, due to his failing health, after he complained of a severe headache, said his attorney Abdullah Al-Ahmad. The lawyer expressed grave concern at his client’s health status, particularly in light of the fact that Al-Jassem has also been going without essential medication for existing health conditions ailments. Bedoon birth certificate dilemma KUWAIT: The cabinet is expected to resolve the recurrent problems over bedoon (stateless) residents’ lack of birth certificates shortly, with an insider predicting that the government will issue a decision on the matter later this week. This came after the parliamentary committee assigned to examine this issue concluded its work, recommending that ‘Non-Kuwaiti’ should be written in the space reserved for nationality on birth certificates rather than leaving the space blank as is done at present. The decision followed lengthy consultation with representatives of the ministries of health and interior, reported Al-Qabas. If ratified by the cabinet, the committee’s recommendation is expected to end the suffering of thousands of families due to bedoons’ current indeterminate legal status. The committee issued the recommendation a few days before a deadline issued by the head of the parliamentary health committee MP Dr. Rola Dashti, who warned that if the cabinet did not find a solution it would face the introduction of a regulation for the issuing of special birth certificates specifically for bedoons.
2001 to conduct a census in the region on a somewhat unified basis. On bolstering GCC census cooperation, the official stressed that such effort required much determination and dedication, adding that strengthening such cooperation would allow for GCC states to coordinate with other organizations on the statistics gather levels. The agenda of the event will shed light on economic statistics gathering and will also discuss recommendations of head of census centers and departments within the GCC region.— KUNA
The ambassador further noted the noticeable spike in Kuwaiti-Jordanian economic and commercial relations, saying that Kuwaiti investments in Jordan were close to USD eight billion, making it the number one Arab investor in the Hashemite. Sheikh Faisal also underscored the important role played by Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), which funded development projects in Jordan, at a total of $471.7 million since the fund’s establishment in 1962. “Coordination between Kuwait and Jordan includes all Arab concerns, headed by the Palestinian crisis and the interest in closing ranks and encouraging Arab solidarity,” he said. He noted that Kuwaiti-Jordanian relations were back to their pre-1990 status, when Kuwait was invaded by the regime of Saddam Hussein, thanks to efforts on both sides at the official and popular levels in the best interest of the two peoples. He said that proof of this improvement in relations were the facilitations made by Jordan for the Kuwaiti diplomatic mission, Kuwaiti offices, as well as students, patients and tourists. The ambassador noted that there were more than 3,000 Kuwaitis studying at universities and colleges here, as well as military personnel who came here for training. In the medical sector, Sheikh Faisal said that there were increasing numbers of Kuwaitis who came here to benefit from excellent health services. He also highlighted the great role played by Jordanian teachers now, and in the past. In Beirut, Lebanese Information Minister Tareq Al-Metri underscored the important role that Kuwait, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber
Al-Sabah, played in realizing Arab solidarity slogan, as reflected in its continuous support for Lebanon. “His Highness the Amir’s visit is of great importance, because it will strengthen the existing relations between Kuwait and Lebanon,” he said. He also said that the visit was an occasion to express the appreciation that the Lebanese people had for Kuwait and its leader, who had always been a strong supporter of Lebanon. “His Highness was always with us, and he constantly reaffirms his keenness for (Lebanon’s) unity and stability.” He noted that the Kuwaiti leader sponsored many dialogues and diplomatic initiatives aimed at bringing political and economic stability to Lebanon. Al-Metri referred to the Arab Economic Summit hosted by Kuwait in January 2009, and the initiative launched by the Kuwaiti Amir to create a fund for decent living and to create another fund to support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). “Lebanon realizes the role it had to play and its Arab commitments, and was thus one of the greatest supporters of the initiatives of His Highness Sheikh Sabah at the Arab Economic Summit,” the minister said. The minister said that Kuwait was able to play an even greater role, not only in reconciling Arabs, but also to translate this into actual initiatives, as was the case at the Arab Economic Summit. “Reconciliation is not just based on diplomacy or exchange visits, but is built through joint Arab action, and this is the track taken by the Kuwaiti Amir,” he said. Al-Metri said Kuwait and Lebanon both enjoyed press freedom, and that this enriched the democratic practice in the two countries, as well as the press and cultural movements.
Meanwhile, Lebanese journalists and media personalities welcomed the upcoming visit of Amir to their country, and emphasized his efforts in the service of Arab issues. General Manager of ‘Dar El-Sayyad’ newspaper, Ilham Fraiha, said that the Kuwaiti Amir was a “man of vision and generous initiatives,” and that his visit to Lebanon would further boost the warm relations at the official and popular levels. She said that the Kuwaiti leader would be welcomed in a manner that reflected the deep appreciation and respect that Lebanon had for Kuwait and its leader, given the honorable stances of His Highness Sheikh Sabah and his support for Arab nations in good times and in bad at international conventions. “Kuwait has always been generously supported by Kuwait in difficult times, as well as in times of stability,” she said, while noting as well the Amir’s interest in the Palestinian crisis and providing humanitarian assistance to people there. National News Agency Director Lora Suleiman recounted the efforts of the Kuwaiti leader in critical Arab issues, adding that this visit would be “historic at all levels” and would be in the best interest of the two peoples. She said that Lebanon and Kuwait were bound through a relationship of mutual respect. Moreover, she said that Kuwait stood by Lebanon and supported its development projects. As for Talal Suleiman, the owner and publisher of ‘Assafir’ newspaper, he said that the Kuwaiti Amir’s visit was “long awaited,” saying that the two countries enjoyed deeplyrooted relations. He said that His Highness the Amir’s tour to Cairo, Damascus, Amman and Beirut would serve the interest of Arab solidarity and joint action. — KUNA