RABIA ALTHANI 20, 1441 AH TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2019 28 Pages Max 19º Min 10º 150 Fils Established 1961 ISSUE NO: 18012 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net Turkey sends armed drone to Rhythm and smiles as Gnawa Harvey Weinstein’s ‘forgotten From ‘ignored’ to adored: Abid 6 N Cyprus amid gas dispute 19 artists cheer UNESCO listing 24 man’ comments anger accusers 26 turns hero in homecoming Test Stoltenberg: NATO faces most ‘complex security’ environment 15 years of Istanbul Cooperation Initiative marked KUWAIT: NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said yesterday the powerful western military alliance was facing the most “complex security” environment in its history amid rising tensions between member states. His words come after a NATO summit earlier this month in Britain exposed sharp divisions between leaders. “What we saw in London, at the leaders’ meeting, was that there are dif- ferences between allies. But we demonstrated unity,” said Stoltenberg, speaking in Kuwait to mark 15 years of the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative. The ICI was launched by NATO to boost security links with the Middle East. “We demonstrated unity on NATO’s core task - and that is that we defend and protect each other, one for all and all for one,” Stoltenberg added. “In all these years, NATO has never experienced a more complex security environment than it does today,” Stoltenberg said. “To maintain our security, we need to be agile and prepared to respond to threats coming from all directions - from KUWAIT: (Left) HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at Bayan Palace yesterday. (Right) Chairman of land, sea, air, space and cyberspace - also from state and Kuwait’s National Security Apparatus Sheikh Thamer Al-Sabah and Stoltenberg attend the NAC-ICI meeting to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Istanbul Cooperation non-state actors.” Initiative yesterday. — Photos by KUNA and Yasser Al-Zayyat (See Page 2) Continued on Page 24 tion Congress chief, tweeted that the law and a have been detained. “The curfew is from 9:00 Protests rage mooted nationwide register of citizens also pm to 6:00 am,” Assam finance minister seen as anti-Muslim were “weapons of mass Himanta Biswa Sarma said. polarization unleashed by fascists”. In the east in Kolkata, capital of West in India over The UN human rights office said last week Bengal, more than 10,000 people took part it was concerned the law “would appear to yesterday in a march led by state premier ‘anti-Muslim’ law undermine the commitment to equality before Mamata Banerjee, a firebrand Modi opponent. the law enshrined in India’s constitution”, while Banerjee told the crowd that the law would be NEW DELHI: Fresh protests rocked India Washington and the European Union have also implemented in her state “over my dead yesterday as anger grew over new citizenship expressed unease. Yesterday, fresh protests body”, Indian media reported. “India is being legislation slammed as anti-Muslim, after six took place including in Chennai, Bangalore and divided,” said Meera Hajra, a protester in people died in the northeast and up to 200 Lucknow, where hundreds of students - most Kolkata. State police said they fired tear gas were injured in New Delhi. The law fast-tracks of them Muslims, television pictures indicated to disperse hundreds of protesters elsewhere citizenship for non-Muslims from three neigh- - tried to storm a police station. after they threw stones. More than 350 peo- boring countries. Critics say it is part of Prime The northeast, where even allowing non- ple were detained. Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Muslims citizenship is opposed by many locals No major incidents were reported nation- agenda to marginalize the 200-million strong and which in recent days has been the epicen- wide by yesterday evening, although several Islamic minority. ter of protests with six people dead, also saw metro stations were closed in Delhi as demon- Modi yesterday denied this, tweeting that fresh demonstrations. Authorities there in strations there continued for a second day. On the new law “does not affect any citizen of Assam’s main city Guwahati lifted a daytime Sunday evening rioters torched vehicles and India of any religion”, while accusing “vested curfew but night-time restrictions remained, as police with batons fired tear gas and charged interest groups” of stoking the “deeply dis- did internet curbs. Ten people remain in hospi- protesting students before storming the Delhi’s CHENNAI: Demonstrators shout slogans and hold placards to protest against the Indian government’s Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) yesterday. — AFP tressing” unrest. Rahul Gandhi, former opposi- tal with gunshot wounds, while 190 people Continued on Page 24 Entrepreneur Mashal Al-Kharashi is Saudis resist fighting back - with a rice plate that makes the portion of food appear bigger. Qatar FM says With a mound in the center, the plate ‘culture of minimizes the middle area, prompting talks with Saudi people to serve less and save more. “The food waste innovative design, elevated from the middle, reduces waste by 30 percent,” break ‘stalemate’ RIYADH: The plate is designed to make Kharashi told AFP, adding that the plate, a meal look bigger - a gastronomic illu- adopted in recent years by multiple DOHA: Qatar’s foreign minister has voiced opti- sion and an innovative way to tame Saudi restaurants, has saved more than mism over ending a bitter rift with Riyadh, saying Saudi Arabia’s pervasive throwaway cul- 3,000 tons of rice. “This way we pre- early talks broke a “stalemate” but stressed Doha’s ture which results in colossal food waste. serve the generosity part while cutting unwillingness to downgrade ties with Turkey as a Across much of the Gulf lavish displays waste.” pre-condition. Saudi Arabia along with its allies the of food are seen as a cultural totem of The desert kingdom - which because United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut all generosity and hospitality. But much of it of its limited arable land and scarce diplomatic and transport ties with Qatar in June ends up in the trash. Saudi households water resources is heavily reliant on 2017. The four nations accused Doha of backing typically serve large oval-shaped plat- imports to meet its growing food radical Islamists, including the Muslim Brotherhood, ters piled high with rice, a daily staple, demand - has the highest rate of waste and seeking closer ties with Saudi arch rival Tehran but a lot goes to waste as many just nib- globally. The average Saudi wastes up to - allegations Qatar vehemently denies. RIYADH: A kitchen worker prepares an order in the Mashal plate for a customer at a ble on the sides and rarely even reach 250 kg of food annually, compared to a Continued on Page 24 restaurant as the plate’s creator Mashal Al-Kharashi watches on July 25, 2019. — AFP the middle. Continued on Page 24 KUWAIT: Roads were flooded across Kuwait after heavy rain hit the country yesterday. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat and Fouad Al-Shaikh 2 Tuesday, December 17, 2019 Local NATO Security General praises ‘tailored’ training, support to Gulf NATO-ICI celebrates 15 years of exemplary partnership - NSB chief KUWAIT: A group photo taken during a ceremony marking the 15th anniversary of the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) in Kuwait yesterday. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat KUWAIT: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg “This is vital, because the closer our cooperation, the safer Initiative,” he pointed out. The partnership between NATO and other ICI countries found in the ICI a means to engen- praised the tailored training and practical support provid- we all will be,” he added. For 15 years, NATO has engaged and the ICI has grown stronger over the years, he said. “So der those ends. Since then we have worked diligently with ed by NATO to all Gulf countries. This came in a speech in regular consultation and practical cooperation with all as we look to the future together, we must work even clos- our partners in Brussels to meet those goals,” he said. during a ceremony marking the 15th anniversary of the Gulf partners at all levels. Individual Partnership er together. To deliver the stability we need in the neigh- In 2006, kuwait hosted the first NATO Gulf conference Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI), held in Kuwait yes- Cooperation Programs have brought structure and focus borhood we share,” he concluded. with the North Atlantic Council (NAC) in attendance. terday. Stoltenberg expressed appreciation for the support to cooperation with Istanbul Cooperation Initiative part- During the NAC-ICI meeting in 2012, Kuwait committed given by the Gulf partners to NATO-led operations in ners, he added. Under these agreements, a wide range of Exemplary partnership to building a NATO-ICI regional center, Sheikh Thamer Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan. He also welcomed that bilateral activities have taken place, including on energy Kuwait Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al- said. In 2017, NATO-ICI the regional center serves to pro- NATO and its Gulf partners cooperate closely within the and maritime security, cyber defense, civil emergency Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah has been a solid supporter of vide personnel from the Kingdom of Bahrain, Qatar, UAE Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh. “I am proud of the planning, and non-proliferation and arms control. relationship and partnership with NATO and within the in addition to the Sultanate of Oman and Saudi Arabia with cooperation that has taken place between our nations and Some of these activities have been facilitated by the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI), National Security training courses and events that reflect NATO’s expertise I very much look forward to deepening our partnership in Regional Centre here in Kuwait, Stoltenberg noted.