KUWAIT, March 18 (KUNA) -- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, regreting "practices" that ruined cooperatin between legislative and executive authorities, announced parliament dissolution Wednesday and called on the Kuwaiti people to elect a new house.
-- Addressing the nation, Sheikh Sabah said, "... it is in national interest that I seek dissolution of the National Assembly in line with article 107 of the constitution, and call the Kuwaiti people to elect a new parliament that can bear the great responsibility of maintaining State security and sovereignty." This new parliament, hoped Sheikh Sabah, would shoulder the responsibility of the advancement and development in a spirit of cooperation between the legislative and executive authorities "which is the cornerstone for the development of any nation." Article 107 of the Constitution stipulates, "The Amir may dissolve the National Assembly by a decree in which the reasons for dissolution shall be indicated. However, dissolution of the Assembly may not be repeated for the same reasons.
"In the event of dissolution, elections for the new Assembly shall be held within a period not exceeding two months from the date of the dissolution.
"If the elections are not held within the said period the dissolved Assembly shall be restored to its full constitutional authority and shall meet immediately as if the dissolution had not taken place. The Assembly shall then continue functioning until the new Assembly is elected."
-- Sheikh Sabah acknowledged shortcomings in performance of government authorities which needed "serious work in order to upgrade performance of the government body and speed up the completion of development projects in order to honor ambitions of citizens and guarantee future of next generations in a secured and prosperous nation." Sheikh Sabah also acknowledged the right of the MPs to use their constitutional rights to monitor the government's performance "as long as it remains in its correct framework, including the interpellations." However, he continued to say, "every right regardless its kind has its conditions and regulations which should not be ignored ..., foremost to be within the sound legal framework, and committed with the spirit of responsibility and achieving a national aim ..." Sheikh Sabah, in his address to his fellow citizens, said the practices inside the parliament "tarnished the freedom and democracy in Kuwait ... and it was obvious that these practices ruined cooperation between the legislative and executive authorities, spread atmospheres of tension and chaos leading to the crippling of the national action march in the country." The Amir, who said he sensed the sorrow of citizens because of inappropriate practices within the parliament, said these practices were "violating the constitution and law, a breach to boundaries of other authorities, unprecedented degrading of dialogue, questioning people's morals ... using media to arouse the public ... to achieve short-sighted objectives at the expense of the nation." He said the interpellations were tabled in a way that divert attention away from citizens' needs.
"Is it strange that the citizens wonder about nature of these interpellation and practices and their real objectives? and whether they really fall in the interest of the nation? and whether they achieve the objectives of their authors?" asked Sheikh Sabah.
The constitution is a regime of legal principles aims at guaranteeing sound democratic practice, said Sheikh Sabah. "We must realize its (constitution) importance and that it is a tool not an objective." The Kuwaiti Amir regretted that the parliament has turned to a place for useless argument, differences and triggering of crises.
"The decline in the parliamentary practice and its consequences have undermined pillars of security and stability of our community, making me feel danger ... real danger specially within an uncertain atmosphere, but explosive, regionally and international in its security, political and economic spheres," underlined Sheikh Sabah.
Sheikh Sabah expressed dismay at "our media organizations, which we have always respected and care about, and depended on their positive role in development and unity, with some of them used to destroy our community and its national principles." "... the decision i have taken today was not easy on my heart but it is a decision I must take responsibly ... it is in national interest that I seek dissolution of the National Assembly in line with article 107 of the constitution, and call the Kuwaiti people to elect a new parliament that can bear the great responsibility of maintaining State security and sovereignty." Sheikh Sabah said, "We affirm our overwhelming commitment to the democratic method ... and everybody should know that based on my national responsibility ... I will not hesitate to taking any steps to maintaining the security and stability of the nation, protecting its interest and principles." He said he was aware that the citizens would responsibly elect their representatives to achieve their ambitions in a safe, stable and prosperous nation. (end) bs KUNA 182120 Mar 09NNNN