ShareBy B Izzak
KUWAIT: HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah opened the new term of the National Assembly on Tuesday by strongly condemning the brutal Zionist aggression on Gaza and the large-scale massacres of Palestinian civilians. Representing HH the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, HH the Crown Prince called for an immediate ceasefire and allowing the entry of food and other relief aid to the blockaded 2.2 million Palestinians in Gaza. He also called for a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian cause based on international legitimacy.
HH Sheikh Mishal also criticized a controversial ruling issued by the Iraqi supreme federal court a few weeks ago in which it declared as unconstitutional an agreement between Iraq and Kuwait to regulate navigation in the Khor Abdullah waterway. “We affirm that this ruling breaches all international covenants, treaties and agreements,” he said. The agreement was signed by the two countries in 2012 and was ratified the following year by the two parliaments. But in the surprising verdict, the Iraqi federal court said the Iraqi parliament’s ratification was unconstitutional.
Turning to the local issues, HH Sheikh Mishal criticized both the National Assembly and the government for undesirable practices and failing to live up to expectations, eventually disappointing the Kuwaiti people. He called on lawmakers to improve their parliamentary practices, avoid minor issues and abandon asking lengthy questions, the answers for which take a long time.
HH the Crown Prince also urged MPs to avoid using grillings as a threat and to stop agitating people for marginal issues. HH Sheikh Mishal criticized the government, saying its performance is still below the expectations and aspirations of the Kuwaiti people, adding that despite total support by the leadership, it remains hesitant in taking decisions and is very slow in implementing them. He urged the two authorities to open a new page in relations based on cooperation, understanding and consultations, while avoiding any practices that could pose dangers to national unity amid regional turmoil.
National Assembly Speaker Ahmad Al-Saadoun said MPs are optimistic to continue the achievements they started in the first term, adding that MPs have already coordinated to select a number of important priority legislation during the term. Saadoun urged the government of Iraq to take urgent and decisive measures to remedy the consequences of the Iraqi court ruling regarding the Khor Abdullah agreement. The speaker also strongly condemned the barbaric Zionist attacks and ethnic cleansing by the Zionist entity against Palestinians in Gaza.
HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Nawaf Al-Sabah called on MPs to continue the cooperation they exhibited in the shortened first term, which resulted in approving four key legislations over a short period.
Outlining his government’s program of action, HH Sheikh Ahmad said the government will continue with its development plan based on redefining the government’s role in the national economy to transform it from an unsustainable welfare economy into a productive economy to ensure its sustainability.
These objectives will be achieved by boosting the role of the private sector, improving the business environment and the efficiency of the infrastructure in line with the goals of the 2035 New Kuwait vision, he said. He said the program will focus on raising non-oil ration in public revenues which heavily rely on oil income. Sheikh Ahmad said the new Al-Zour refinery with a capacity of 615,000 barrels per day will be fully operational by the end of the current fiscal year in March.
He said that the government provided some 10,000 internal and external scholarships for Kuwaitis students in the current year and has created around 15,700 public sector jobs for Kuwaitis between January and October this year. The prime minister insisted that Kuwait will never accept the Iraqi federal court ruling abolishing the agreement with Kuwait to regulate navigation in Khor Abdullah, adding that the ruling does not serve bilateral relations. He also stressed the Durra gas field is entirely owned equally by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait only. Iran claims the right to a share in the field.
During the opening session, the Assembly unanimously elected MP Osama Al-Shaheen as secretary and MP Falah Al-Hajeri as observer. MPs also agreed to form a committee to investigate allegations made in two grillings filed against former public works minister Amani Bugammaz, who resigned ahead of debating the grillings. The Assembly will hold a special session on Wednesday to debate the Zionist attacks on Gaza. The next regular session is scheduled for Nov 14.
