Leading Kuwait on a Path of Peace and Prosperity
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250 Fils Issue No 731 Established 1996 25 - 26 February, 2015 www.timeskuwait.com His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Leading Kuwait on a path of peace and prosperity is Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah country continued progress on a path of Highness the Amir, has taken thoughtful Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, has peace and prosperity. and judicious decisions that have resulted Hshown an extraordinary flair for Since his ascension as Amir of Kuwait in in the best outcome for the nation and charting Kuwait’s domestic and foreign 2006, and even before that as the country’s its people. Although His Highness the affairs in a manner that has assured the foreign minister for over forty years, His Amir was a member of every government formed after Kuwait’s independence in 1961 and held various official posts before and after that, it is as the country’s long- standing foreign minister that he gained prominence on the world arena. Known fondly among the global diplomatic community as a ‘doyen of diplomacy’, for his considerable experience in foreign policies and international negotiations, His Highness has successfully mediated solutions to Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, the eleventh Amir of seemingly intractable political problems in Kuwait, signing the Declaration of Independence. the region and beyond. It was His Highness’ strong personal rapport with diplomats worldwide and Kuwait... a look his strong standing with the diplomatic community that helped Kuwait garner through history overwhelming international support against the vicious Iraqi invasion of 1990. This uwait with an area of less than 18,000 km2 and a support was reflected in the unanimous Kpopulation of 4.1 million is among the smallest countries UN Security Council (UNSC) decision 670 in the world. Though a small country, it has a history of human We cannot afford to stagnate, we must move forward. We on 2 August, 1990 that condemned the habitation that goes back to the time of early civilization Iraqi invasion and called for the immediate in the region. Kuwait’s recorded history goes back to the have a duty to transform Kuwait into a center of hard work and unconditional withdrawal of all Iraqi sixteenth century when it began existence as a small fishing and innovation, a testament to progress and modernity. troops from Kuwait. village at the northern tip of the Arabian Gulf. Continued on Page 4 Continued on Page 8 2 The Times Kuwait l 25-26 February, 2015 l timeskuwait.com The Times l 22-28 February, 2015 l timeskuwait.com Mai Al-Nakib is Associate Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Kuwait University. Her collection Before After the War Mai Al-Nakib of short stories, The Hidden Light of Objects, will appear in paperback in April 2015 (Bloomsbury). It won the Edinburgh How did the Gulf War influence your view of life? International Book Festival’s First Book Award in 2014. She For me and, I think, for others of a certain generation, there is a distinct ‘before the war’ is currently on a book tour in the US, and will be presenting and ‘after the war’. I think of ‘home’ in much at the upcoming Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in less defined or fixed terms than, perhaps, I once did. After the war, the idea of home Dubai, as well as at the Global Art Forum 9 in Kuwait. For came unhinged for me. Home is less rooted, less tangible. It’s something I carry with me information visit: Facebook.com/maialnakib rather than something I take for granted. take a second to appreciate what they about eight or so. I’m not quite sure what I I don’t want to romanticize the notion of have in terms of national, social, political, knew about World War I, surely something I displacement. I recognize how lucky I am or economic freedoms; again, it’s hard not read about in a book. What strikes me now — unlike so many of our neighbors in the to compare Kuwait to other places in the is how different Kuwait was then; it was a region — to be a citizen of a place that is not region and to be thankful. But in general, place where it was both safe and completely unravelling. But to feel the way I do about the young want to push against restrictions acceptable for a young girl to play alone for home produces a restlessness that can be and limitations toward their own versions of hours in a vast construction site. Another productive, especially for a writer. Writing of education in structuring progress. freedom. That’s part of what it means to be thing that has stayed with me about that becomes a kind of home. Do you think the younger generation young. time is how happy I felt to be alone in those In your opinion, how has the country appreciate the freedom gained after the On the National and Liberation day, what is ditches, to be allowed the space and time progressed economically and politically invasion? the most important memory you have of to explore and play and, above all, imagine since the war? I’m not sure how important the invasion is to other worlds. Kuwait had to rebuild much of its infrastructure your life in Kuwait? Millennials or how aware they are of its This is an impossible question to answer! I think that kind of empty space and open time after the invasion and it has managed to do impact. I don’t think the invasion is studied I spent the formative years of my life in might be missing from kids’ lives today. that successfully, for the most part. It’s been in school from a historical or socio-political Kuwait and most of my key memories Everything feels so overly structured and Viewpoint twenty-four years since the war. Twenty-four perspective. From what I understand, it’s were made here. To be honest, I don’t codified, which is a bit of a shame. For me, years of political and economic change that covered in a rather general and nationalistic think it’s possible for anyone to select a the memory of getting lost in my imagination cannot be linked to that single, no doubt manner. This is a missed opportunity for single most important memory and, even as a kid in Kuwait is something I truly value important, event. There are a wide range young people to learn something of value if it were, it would be difficult to share with and continue to draw upon in my creative of factors — local, regional, global — that from the past in order to avoid similar patterns strangers. A vivid memory I have in Kuwait work. affect development and transformation. in the future. However, I do not believe the is of playing in the ditches of what would It goes beyond the scope of this short Do you have a message for Kuwaitis on the invasion should be taught as a way to harbor become the Fifth Ring Road. I would spend interview to unpack their complexities. What occasion of the National and Liberation continued resentment or anger against hours after school climbing down into the I can say is that in making economic and Day? others. In general, I think young people ditches behind our house, wandering back To all residents of Kuwait — Kuwaiti and non- political decisions, insufficient attention has always feel like they want more freedom, and forth, pretending to be a solider in the Kuwaiti alike — I wish you a happy holiday. been paid to the environment and to the role more opportunities. They may (or may not!) trenches of World War I. I must have been Drive safely! The Times Kuwait l 25 - 26 February, 2015 l timeskuwait.com 3 Distinguished Kuwaiti Tareq Al Sane went to primary and secondary schooling in Lebanon (Manor House), and Before After the War Tareq Al Sane graduated with a Management degree from a University in Please describe your life before the Gulf harm to citizens getting their rightful share. Brighton, UK. He is a proud father of five children. war? I was a member of this group up until Life in Kuwait before the Gulf war was secure September 21st 1990. and simple. People were more communal On that day, I was taken hostage at first at Faisal and stronger ties between citizens were more Al Sane’s house (also taken hostages with prevalent. Any spare time was dedicated his son and cousins), then they took some to the family, having less entertainment of us to an abandoned place behind Bibi options and activities - there was no need Complex leaving us stranded for 3 days in in spending time elsewhere. Work chores the sun, tied up, until armed buses took us were simpler to deal with and people were to Basra intelligence agency headquarters more diligent with their jobs - with Kuwaitis in Iraq. They took us to underground tunnels working in every field and sector. Roads where there was no sunlight and the heat was were more structured and organized and unbearable to the point you can’t breathe. It much easier to drive on. was a torture tactic - with the doors opening We had a privileged life, not in the materialistic once every day to let an air draft in; sweat sense, but rather in education and knowledge was dripping profusely and we almost base. We were international entrepreneurs suffocate every day. It feels like being in a equipped with a deep national pride for our treasure box, with the lack of oxygen slowly country.