KUWAIT, Oct 19 (KUNA) -- The cabinet on Monday decided that Kuwait would not host the 23rd Gulf Cup of Nations scheduled for December 2015.
The decision was made today during the cabinet's weekly meeting held at Bayan Palace and chaired by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, in line with a proposal by Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah.
Sheikh Salman had briefed the cabinet on the outcome of the recent joint meeting with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Lausanne, Switzerland, that discussed compatibility of the sports laws in Kuwait on the legal and organizing level, said Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah.
The Kuwaiti delegation, that included head of the National Assembly Youth and Sports Committee MP Abdullah Al-Maiouf and committee member Abdullah Al-Turaiji, clarified the situation to the IOC.
They reiterated that the Kuwaiti sports laws do not contravene with the Olympic Charter or the relevant international criteria. They also stressed the fact that the Kuwaiti sports bodies are "fully independent." The Information Minister explained the circumstances of the FIFA decision to suspend the Kuwait Football Association (KFA) from taking part in any international competitions, and how the move was "arbitrary and hasty." It entails banning national teams and clubs from international competition.
Sheikh Salman informed the cabinet about the procedures to be taken to resolve the crisis, in line with Kuwait's sovereignty and legal and constitutional system.
The Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs suggested that after the FIFA move, Kuwait would not host the 23rd Gulf Cup of Nations, and the suggestion was given the cabinet's approval.
The ministers had reviewed all the relevant regretful developments, their reasons and implications. It expressed deep regret over the decision that might cause harm to Kuwait's reputation as a country well-known for its full compliance with the international institutions and respect of laws and charters.
The cabinet tasked the Public Authority for Youth and Sports (PAYS) with taking the proper procedures to counter all forms of deviation in the sport scene and to achieve the aspired reforms in its various institutions in line with directives of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
The meeting highly appreciated the sincere efforts by Minister Sheikh Salman and PAYS, and stressed the necessity of keeping them up to realize the aspired national goals.
The ministers lauded efforts by the National Assembly represented by two MPs who took part in defending Kuwait's international reputation in Lausanne. They highlighted the national stance by the Kuwaiti clubs that rejected the FIFA decision, reiterating that Kuwait's sports laws are in line with the international charters.
As today's meeting started, the cabinet was notified of His Highness the Amir's commissioning His Highness the Prime Minister to represent him at the 4th Arab-Latin America Summit due in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in November, the Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs said.
Meanwhile, the cabinet approved and referred to His Highness the Amir two legal draft bills, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah said.
The first is on amending a host of provisions of Penal Code Law 16/1960 and the other on altering Item 11 of Law 40/1972 on Cases of Appealing by Cassation and its Procedures.
The cabinet concluded the routine meeting with a review of the political developments on the Arab and international scenes. (end) msa