KUWAIT, Oct 28 (KUNA) -- His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, at opening of the new parliamentary session on Tuesday, expressed deep appreciation for His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's historic role for maintaining national unity.
He also called for tangible action to press ahead with development, tackle administrative defects and corruption, warned of naming and shaming unproductive administrators and made the crucial note that a State tight-belt policy has become necessary due to record fall of oil prices.
At start of his address to the National Assembly's third session of the 14th legislative term, held at Abdullah Al-Salem's Hall, His Highness the Prime Minister noted that the session's inauguration signaled boost "to our democratic march, making us proud of the bounty of freedom and democracy which we have embraced, in a manifestation of confidence in the country's security and safety and the natives' advocacy of consultation and positive popular participation.
"We pray to His Almighty that we prove to be up to His Highness the Amir's expectation, as to shouldering the trust and placing interest of dear Kuwait above any other consideration, as well as realizing aspirations of all natives, guided by our religion and ideal message," His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak stated.
His Highness the Prime Minister said, "Kuwait, its people and government and the whole world, have recently celebrated the honoring by the United Nations of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah due to his role and support for international humanitarian action, granting him the title the humanitarian leader as well as the naming of dear Kuwait as a humanitarian center; such an unprecedented earned honoring by the international organization.
"This great international achievement, as His Highness the Crown Prince has indicated in is address to the nation on this distinguished and historic occasion, constitutes an honorary recognition and a historic and civil certificate for our dear Kuwait and for His Highness the Amir may Allah safeguard him and the kind people of Kuwait.
"At another level, we all ought to note with appreciation the historic role and the relentless and blessed efforts that have been exerted by His Highness the Amir as to containing instigation witnessed in the country, his success in bolstering our national unity and maintaining abidance by the laws that resulted in strengthening the bases of stability." Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak noted in this respect Kuwait's hosting, under His Highness the Amir's leadership, of many conferences and meetings, its constructive efforts for solidifying regional security, peace and stability, boosting Arab-Gulf rapprochement, aiding people in need for help in the region, the Arab, Islamic and foreign nations. "Such achievements have led to renewing Kuwait's renowned and leading role," he said.
Turning to the "real challenges" and dramatic events in the region, he said, "Undoubtedly we are not far away from their evil repercussions; thus we need to be more vigilant and aware, in vision and responsible practice, at this critical phase, to secure our homeland." He called for protecting the society against "destructive thoughts coming from abroad, renouncing terrorism and boosting the spirit of tolerance for sake of demonstrating our solid national unity in face of the various challenges.
"Therefore, the positive and fruitful cooperation between the legislative and executive authorities become an indispensable option for sake of preserving the homeland's achievements, realize change and the aspired reforms and pushing development forward. Also on this basis, the government aspires to greater cooperation and an adequate atmosphere so that the (National) Assembly play its legislative and supervisory role to be a full partner in shouldering the national responsibilities according to provisions of the Constitution, and this in turn warrants that we turn more tolerant in accepting others' opinions to accomplish cooperation and make Kuwait the biggest winner." The Government, while affirming the urgent need for taking "a qualitative and fruitful step forward to overcome snags and obstacles that face our determination of priorities, for sake of enforcing the State of law and institutions as a means to realize the aspired objectives for service of the homeland and the citizens, has submitted to your Assembly the draft law with respect of the development schemes for the years 2015-2016 and 2019-2020, under the slogan 'moving ahead for sake of citizen's development and economic sustainability.'" The Government in its submission of the new development strategies had taken lessons from implementation of the past strategies, he said, adding that the new plans aim to "tackle challenges facing the economic development, handling defects in the economic condition, particularly in the shadow of the alarming fall of oil prices, thus warranting serious revision as to the means of coping with the relevant repercussions." In this vein, Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubrak called for trimming and rationalizing spending, noting necessary role of the private sector as an effective partner in the development process.
Moreover, the new strategy, he said, aims at tackling challenges facing human resources' development, tackling issues with respect of housing care, improving quality of teaching, overhauling health services, tackling demographic flaws, enabling the youth to take part in social issues, bolstering their role for building the homeland, combating corruption, upgrading efficiency of the State administrative staff, activating the policy of punishment and reward for the civil servants and assessing officials' performance on basis of their success in implementing goals of the abovementioned plan.
His Highness the Prime Minister acknowledged that more reforms would warrant serious action involving the parliament, the government and the people. "Undoubtedly these reforms require tools and methods that do not affect the citizens' living standards and make balance between the homeland's interests and the citizens' aspirations, also with consideration to the next generations' rights.
"The Government has always been keen on making its actions distinguished with full transparency, realism, feasibility and seriousness to tackle the accumulating files," he said, also noting in this respect necessity of abiding by the relevant laws. "Undoubtedly, respect for the judiciary and preserving its aloft status constitute some of the basic causes of stability and promotion of the society. Our judiciary will always remain the voice of justice, a source of confidence and pride for all, and a refuge for all seeking justice," he stressed.
Emphasizing that the country's stability is a prime priority, His Highness the Premier called on all concerned individuals and authorities to take part in the development process; according to priorities and in order. (end) rk