Kuwait deplores Munich shooting
Cabinet holds weekly meeting
Kuwait yesterday denounced the shooting rampage in the German city of Munich on Friday, which claimed scores of lives and injured several others. Kuwait deplores this ‘criminal’ attack, which contravenes all religious values and conveys its deepest condolences to the families of the victims, said a statement issued by the Cabinet after its weekly meeting.
Moreover, the Cabinet called on the international community to ramp up efforts to fight all forms of terrorism and to exterminate this scourge. An 18 year old teenager opened fire on shoppers in Munich’s Olympia shopping mall on Friday, killing nine people and wounding 16 others, before turning the gun on himself.
Drug smuggling
The cabinet yesterday held a customary weekly meeting at Seif Palace chaired by Acting Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. The meeting was briefed in detail on the thwarted recent attempt to smuggle a huge amount of Captagon into Kuwait through the Shuwaikh Port. The account was offered by Acting Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, the Minister of Commerce and Industry and the Minister of Finance and Acting Minister of Oil.
The attempt, the biggest in Kuwait’s history, was foiled in cooperation with the security bodies and the General Administration of Customs. The cabinet hailed the achievement and highly appreciated the sincere efforts by the Interior Ministry and the General Administration of Customs to combat drugs and protect the country against their destructive impacts.
Sand dunes
Meanwhile, the meeting was offered an account by Minister of Public Works and Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs Ali AlOmair on the phenomenon of sand dune fields and dust accumulation on high ways. The minister said an outstanding committee would be formed from the relevant bodies to be in charge of taking the precautionary measures to counter the phenomenon. A mechanism will be set for coordination among these bodies in case of emergency.
Furthermore, the cabinet approved and referred to His Highness the Amir draft bills on endorsing the balance sheets of several state institutions for the FY 2015-2016. The bills will later find their way to the National Assembly.
Letters to Amir
At the onset of the meeting, the ministers were notified of a message from Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow inviting His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to attend the Global Sustainable Transport Conference which Ashgabat hosts on November 26-27, said Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah.
The conference will address issues related to the international partnership in sustainable transport systems as an integral element in the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The meeting was also informed about messages to His Highness the Amir from Senegalese President Macky Sall, Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos and Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, on means of boosting bilateral ties, besides issues of common concern, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah added.
The cabinet was then given notice of a message from Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak inviting His Highness the Amir to attend the opening ceremony of the 12th World Islamic Economic Forum Foundation, to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia, August 2016 under the theme “Decentralizing Growth, Empowering Future Business.”
Climate change
The ministers were apprised of a message from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon inviting His Highness the Amir to attend the high-profile event at the organization’s headquarters in New York on September 21, to secure the early entry into force of the Paris Agreement on climate change. The event will be held on the sidelines of the 71th session of the UN General Assembly.
Afterwards, the cabinet was apprised of a written message from the King of Lesotho Letsie III of Lesotho appreciating His Highness the Amir’s invitation to pay an official visit to Kuwait, which he accepted and welcomed, the cabinet affairs minister said.
In his message, the Monarch stressed the momentousness of the visit during which he will meet with His Highness the Amir to exchange views on issues of common concern, in addition to discussing means of promoting bilateral ties for the good of both countries, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah noted.
Arab Youth
Meanwhile, the cabinet welcomed the decision by the 38th session of the Council of Arab Ministers of Youth and Sports choosing Kuwait as ‘Capital of Arab Youth 2017.’ The cabinet tasked Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah with coordinating with the relevant bodies, as well as forming the necessary committees to realize the aspired goals. Yesterday’s meeting was concluded with a review of developments on the Arab and international political arena. — KUNA