MPs slam move to cut salaries of diplomats

KUWAIT: MPs yesterday demanded that salaries of diplomats should not be reduced and called on First Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah AlK-haled to intervene. MP Ahmad Mutaei rejected any decision that will lead to the reduction of diplomats’ salaries, as Finance Minister Anas Al-Saleh has suggested. He wondered why Saleh opted for this “strange” decision, while his ministry is not adopting any of the solutions given “by me or my colleagues” on reducing the budget deficit.

MP Talal Al-Jalal asked Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled to coordinate with the finance ministry to reconsider the decision to reduce salaries and subsidies of diplomats abroad. He said the roles these missions are playing are appreciated by all, and the state must provide all facilities, particularly financial, so they can carry out their duties perfectly. He rejected any intention to impinge on the rights of diplomats under any excuse, especially since their salaries are considered “humble” compared to those in other GCC countries.

Deputy Speaker Mubarak Al-Khrainej appealed to HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah to reconsider and cancel the decision to set an exchange rate for the salaries of diplomats abroad. He said Kuwait diplomats are known for being highly competent and are building relations with countries worldwide, as well as defending the interests of Kuwait and its people.

MP Askar Al-Enezi demanded that the finance ministry decision to reduce financial allocations for workers in the diplomatic corps should be cancelled, adding that it is a wrong decision because of its negative effects on those in diplomatic jobs. He said the justifications given to reduce financial allocations for diplomatic jobs are not convincing, especially since fixing the exchange rate of currencies against the Kuwaiti dinar does not suit their job and their big role in defending the country’s interests.

MP Dr Mansour Al-Thafiri asked the prime minister and foreign minister to intervene immediately to reconsider the decision and called for issuing a decision that restores matters as they stand. He said diplomats carry out very important missions, and the current situation requires more support due to the turmoil the region is going through.

MP Abdullah Al-Turaiji also called on the premier and foreign minister to intervene immediately to reconsider the “unstudied” decision, adding that he did not receive any satisfactory or convincing answer about this decision. He urged the foreign minister to cancel the “unfair” decision which will reflect negatively on work in the diplomatic corps as a whole.