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GCC states' unity necessary in face of "scary regional challenges" -- His Highness Premier

His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah
His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah

KUWAIT, Nov 18 (KUNA) -- His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah has affirmed significance of the GCC states' unity in face on what he dubbed as scary and dangerous regional challenges.
Factors that keep the GCC countries together are much more than those that may cause differences among them, said His Highness the Premier, in an exclusive interview with the local Arabic-language daily newspaper, "Al-Rai," published on Tuesday, also indicating that the Gulf Cooperation Council's states are destined to remain united due to the common history and mutual relations.
He expressed deep appreciation for His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's relentless action that has led to detente among the GCC states and tackled most of the pending files, over the past months.
His Highness the Amir has recently visited GCC countries on his good-will and mediation mission, out of his keenness on safeguarding the GCC as a single entity in face of "hazards that may jeopardize all the accomplishments that have been made throughout the past 30 years." As to some inter-GCC differences, His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak said, "it is normal that divergence of views exists within the single home," noting that the Kuwaiti mediation efforts, spearheaded by His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad, has paved way not only for holding the next GCC Summit in the Qatari capital Doha, but has also thrashed out most of the pending files that have existed in recent months.
Absence of unity among the GCC countries "will make us vulnerable to storms," His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak warned, stressing that the GCC states' views should be coherent on "resolutions that enable us face what is happening around us, and what is being plotted against us." "We have been facing a strange package of challenges; for some powers believe their interest lies in undermining our stability, some believe exporting their problems ensure their safety, others seek to use the region as a bargaining chip in the file of global relations or wrongly believe that altering the political status allows them to extend influence and others use extremism as a bargaining chip to scorch others, being negligent to the fact that the fire may eventually engulf them too," said the Premier, summing up his deep concern regarding the plots being sewn against the region.
On fanaticism, the head of the government expressed his belief that it is genuinely local phenomenon, saying in part, "the extremists may be a very small minority of various affiliations ... however they do exist and we should not hide our head into the sand to ignore this fact." External challenges warrant not only vigilance, but also lifting "the degree of alertness at the security, political, social, intellectual and humanitarian levels, and I would like to state, sincerely, that these challenges will spare no-one."

Asked whether Kuwait is part of the international coalition against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), His Highness the Prime Minister answered, "certainly ... we are in the heart of the coalition and we have been playing our logistical and security role in full and joining hands with our brothers in the GCC network because it is our guarantee, and because the black scheme won't differentiate between one state and another, regardless whether some may believe that they are immune." In response to a question whether Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak believes Kuwait is "well-fortified in face of the regional winds," he replied, "it all hinges on what we all want, on one hand, and our management in this period of time on the other.
"I have deep confidence in the Kuwaiti citizen's awareness; being perplexed by today's fact, predominance of the sectarian rhetoric over the patriotic language ... this is something we have not witnessed or experienced before." Establishment of "sectarian Emirates in the region is part of a scorched earth" plot. "It has proven successful in other states but we, by His Almighty's will, vision of the sagacious leadership and the Kuwaitis' awareness and their commitment to unity as well as our security apparatuses' vigilance, we are still resisting and we will continue to resist these black schemes." "In Kuwait, the leadership is close to the people, with their divergent beliefs, and I won't say their affiliations because they are all faithful to Kuwait .. the leadership has never been known for being sectarian or divisive .. and I speak here about decades and decades .. a leadership that has been preoccupied with a single concern; improving conditions of the Kuwaiti citizen in all domains, now and in the future, in facing the development challenges at all times," he said.
At the security level, His Highness the Premier affirmed that Kuwait would remain secure and safe, not only due to the security authorities' vigilance but also as a result of the citizens' keenness on the national security.
Turning to repercussions of the falling oil prices, the prime minister affirmed that the crude prices' decline "has caused concern however at the same time we have raised the level of public alertness and have taken the measures so that this matter won't impact on the (development) plans and ventures." "The picture is not bleak," in this respect, he said indicating that the oil price has remained above the level, projected in the state budget scheme, however "we have to be realistic with start of the new year and financial measures must be taken, in addition to staying abreast of the oil prices' variations." "We understand peoples' concern but they should not be scared due to the decline (of the oil prices) for we have taken the necessary precautions to deal with such matters since a long time ago, and we have diversified the saving and income resources, and today, rationalizing expenditure has become an unavoidable matter, but without harming those of limited and medium income." Elaborating on this topic, the premier indicated that the top decision makers, during the recent joint meeting that grouped the cabinet with the Supreme Petroleum Council, adopted "programs for slashing the operational costs of oil (production).
"The government will maintain its development programs in a manner that provides top services and care in all sectors."

Regarding the development plans, His Highness the Premier said, "he who works makes errors .. I have said that we do not want to sell illusions to the people or draw rosy dreams .. there have been acknowledgement of some stumbling, out of keenness on being clear and transparent, and such an approach should be encouraged and maintained." "A great deal of (projects) have been accomplished or on the track of being achieved and I have said that our priority lies in social welfare, sustainable development, institutional excellence and administrative reforms and we, as a government, are robustly seeking to achieve these goals," he said.
The government is seeking to make real growth in the gross domestic product, expand the road networks, renovate the airport, the ports, establish a free trade zone, enhance power, build 100,000 residential units within seven years, as well as "launching a comprehensive legislative workshop to alter Kuwait into a financial center, and that is through amending the partnership law of the public and private sectors concerning the BOT contracts, modifying the tenders law, luring foreign enterprise and simplifying bureaucratic measures." There have been some resolutions, intended to safeguard the state treasury, the next generations fund, the youth future, "even though they may not appear common, and that is through lifting subsidies .. these decisions result in some burdens on the citizen that should be aware of the dangers caused by draining the treasury, while being convinced that the management of this file takes into consideration those of limited income, therefore, the burden bulk will be borne by those of the greater income." The government, he added, is currently acting according to a comprehensive development plan, diligently seeking to realise His Highness the Amir's vision of transforming Kuwait into a financial hub. For this purpose, it has taken flexible measures to "revive the financial cycle in general," he said, noting that the state's sell-off of some stakes to mega companies "constitute a step in this direction." As to the ministries' performance, Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak revealed that he had asked the ministers to keep the cabinet, always, posted about all projects' executive measures, refer violations to the public prosecutions, instantly, and respond to MPs' queries in a transparent manner.
"We do not have a magical stick, but things are not actually as being portrayed by some and I believe that we have made strides forward," he stressed, re-affirming the he and the other top executives would work round the clock to meet the peoples' demands.
"We do not shrug off responsibilities, are not scared of criticism and we do not disregard any remark," he elaborated, re-affirming that his team would coordinate with the National Assembly to overcome all obstacles on the road of pushing for development.

Each minister, along with his executive apparatus, is tasked with examining conditions of his sector on the ground, namely by assessing projects' execution and revealing the truth to the people.
On the relationship between the executive and legislative authorities, His Highness the Prime Minister indicated he was optimistic in this respect due to the cooperation between the two sides during the past months, particularly regarding "development of the legislative process to serve the objective of transforming Kuwaiti into a financial center, in addition to other aspects such as supervision, protection of public funds, combating funds' squandering and corruption." As to the currently prevailing issue of enforcing "the tight-belt" approach, he stressed that trimming expenditure must be according to a well-studied plan, ensuring that it would not affect those of limited income, expressing understanding of the concern, expressed loudly by MPs, economic experts and journalists, as to repercussions of the falling oil prices.
He re-affirmed the policy of aiding the youth, in terms of profession and studies, but re-underlined need to harmonize specializations with market needs, stop "random employment," adding that the value of the small and medium enterprises could be increased, also indicating at desire to draw up plans to create jobs for thousands of academic graduates.
He re-affirmed His Highness the Amir's personal care for the youth and his keenness to do everything in his hands to help them realize their aspirations.
On MPs' interpellations, he indicated that the legislators should stick to substantial topics while grilling the executives, and re-affirmed that wrong-doing leaders would not be relieved of punishment. (end) rk