Today in Kuwait''s History, Tuesday, March 16, 2003

KUN0003 4 GEN 0261 KUWAIT /KUNA-CUM7 HIS-KUWAIT-EVENTS Today in Kuwait's History, Tuesday, March 16, 2003 KUWAIT, March 16 (KUNA) -- 1954 -- Kuwait Airways Corporation (KAC) celebrated the landing of its first aircraft, a Dakota DC-3 named Kazma, at the old airport. The old airport was located in what is now Dahia and Nuzha. 1970 -- An Amiri decree was issued to cancel a law issued on May 14, 1964, which called for the establishment of the " Public Authority for the Management of Al-Shuaiba Industrial Area". Replacing it would be an independent body named the "Shuaiba Public Authority", which would come under the supervision of the Ministry of Oil and the Ministry of Finance. 1970 -- The State of Kuwait established at an ambassador-level diplomatic ties with Yemen. 1976 -- His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah issued law number 10 of 1976 to tranfer the rights of Bibi Limited and the Gulf Kuwait Company to the state of Kuwait. 1976 -- Law 13 of 1976 was issued, requiring compulsory conscription starting from March 18, 1978. 1980 -- The ice-skating rink was inaugurated, and was considered to be the first of its kind in Kuwait and the Middle East. The Olympic-sized rink was 1800 square meters, with a capacity to seat 1600 spectators. 1982 -- Failaka touristic park was inaugurated, boasting an area of five million square meters, comprised of 472 chalets that were later destroyed by the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. 1999 -- Kuwaiti women for the first time took part in cooperative union scoiety elections. (end) adf.kf KUNA 160901 Mar 04NNNN