KUWAIT: The Kuwaiti Cabinet touched on the legal measures recently taken by the legal team assigned by the Fatwa and Legislation Department regarding public funds' squandering at the Public Institution For Social Services. Upon the documents and arguments presented by the team, the British higher court issued a verdict, suspending assets of the defendant Fahad Mazyad Al-Rajaan, the former director general of the institution, all over the world. Cabinet ministers praised the relentless efforts undertaken by the institution and the fatwa department for following up on the cause of "assaulting the state public funds," as a national duty. They urged all government departments to do their best to eradicate corruption, and called on the concerned authorities to pursue the procedures to reclaim the institution funds and seek to hand over the defendant to the Kuwaiti authorities for prosecution.
This came during the Cabinet's weekly meeting held at Bayan Palace on Monday under chairmanship of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. The council was informed about a recommendation by the economic affairs committee regarding the fourth annual report of the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA), containing a statistical report about its activities and enterprises. The ministers commended KDIPA's distinguished efforts to bolster the State status at the economic level, enhance the business environment for luring capitals and diversify income resources. Moreover, they looked into recommendations regarding fish farming, and resolving the issue of the dumping site for used rubber tires in Al-Rahiah.
Recent visits
Following the session, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Anas Khaled Al-Saleh said the ministers kicked off the session by expressing congratulations to Their Highnesses the Amir and the Crown Prince on the anniversary of the birthday of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). His Highness the Prime Minister briefed the ministers about outcome of the recent visit by the president of Singapore to the country and contents of the talks she held with His Highness the Amir, focusing on the relations bonding the two friendly countries, means of boosting cooperation in various fields in addition to the discussions on various regional and international topics. He informed the executives about outcome of the recent visit by the Estonian president to Kuwait and the talks she held with His Highness the Amir, dealing with means of boosting cooperation in various sectors namely in commerce and investments. Moreover, His Highness the Prime Minister touched on the current visit to the country by the Tajik president.
Amir's letter
In the meantime, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah addressed the session about his visit to Saudi Arabia where he handed a letter from His Highness the Amir to the Saudi King on the close relations between the two sisterly countries. He also talked about the recent visit to the country by the minister of external affairs of Burkina Faso-during which the two countries inked deals for cooperation in aviation, cultural, artistic, economic and technical fields, in addition to inking a memo for holding consultations between the two States' foreign ministries. Moreover, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled addressed the executives about the recent visit to the country by the minister of external affairs of South Sudan. During the visit, the two countries signed an agreement to establish a joint cooperation committee and inked a memo for regular consultations between the two countries' foreign ministries.
Political developments
The conferees discussed the political affairs in light of the reports on the current political developments on both Arab and international levels. Furthermore, they welcomed the Riyadh Agreement signed between the Yemeni legitimate government and the Southern Transitional Council a few days ago, in response to Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz's call and under the patronage of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. The Kuwaiti Cabinet lauded the big role and serious endeavors made by Saudi Arabia to bring views of the two Yemeni sides closer together that led to this constructive deal, which will contribute to settling differences, and maintaining security and stability in Yemen. The ministers congratulated Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi on signing the accord, expressing their confidence that it would achieve its objectives in terms of restoring security, peace and harmony in Yemen.
They expressed their denunciation of the stabbing act against some foreign tourists and Jordanian citizens in Jerash, north of the Jordanian capital. They stressed Kuwait's support to Jordan in all measures taken to maintain its security and stability. In addition, the Cabinet voiced its great sorrow over the bushfire broke out in New South Wales, east of Australia, that killed and wounded several people. The ministers expressed their sincere condolences to the Iranian people over the earthquake took place in southeastern Iran that killed and wounded several people. They expressed regret over the cyclone in Bangladesh that led to material and human losses, wishing a speedy recovery to those injured and praying to Allah Almighty to rest the victims' souls in eternal peace. - KUNA