Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain Recall Envoys from Qatar
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SUBSCRIPTION THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2014 JAMADA ALAWWAL 5, 1435 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Outgoing Torture claim Violent clashes Pistorius fired US envoy in Egypt trial as India sets gun in eatery, hails role of Jazeera dates for world’s tried to of ABCK2 journalists8 biggest10 election shift15 blame Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain Max 30º Min 17º recall envoys from Qatar High Tide 03:16 & 14:57 Low Tide Speaker urges Amir’s mediation to heal rifts 09:18 & 21:55 40 PAGES NO: 16096 150 FILS By B Izzak and Agencies conspiracy theories Amir leaves hospital KUWAIT: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain recalled their ambassadors from Qatar yester- KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Sabah, HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Unity is the day in an unusually public dispute among the clubby Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah left hos- Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Gulf Arab states, a move analysts say centers on their pital late Tuesday after undergoing Cabinet members and all citizens and neighbor’s support for the Muslim Brotherhood and its successful minor surgery, the Amiri residents for their sincere feeling, only answer perceived aggressive meddling in regional conflicts. Diwan announced in a press state- prayers and constant inquiry about his Kuwait and Oman did not join the diplomatic rebuke to ment yesterday. health. Qatar. The Amir greatly thanked and Sheikh Sabah also expressed grati- Kuwait’s National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al- expressed appreciation of HH the tude to leaders of Arab and friendly Ghanem expressed “deep concern and alarm” and Deputy Amir and Crown Prince countries who inquired about his hoped that HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- health and wished him everlasting Sabah would play a role in healing the divisions. Sheikh Sabah, National Assembly Speaker wellbeing. The Amir also prayed to By Badrya Darwish Sabah, a veteran diplomat, and his officials have tried to Marzouq Al-Ghanem, HH the Almighty God to bestow wellbeing on soothe tensions between Gulf states in recent months, National Guard Chief Sheikh Salem all people and to protect the dear such as before a GCC meeting in the country in Al-Ali Al-Sabah, senior sheikhs, Sheikh homeland and boost its stability, wel- December, diplomats say. Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al- fare and progress. — KUNA The three Gulf Arab states said Qatar failed to uphold [email protected] its end of a security agreement to stop interfering in other nations’ politics and supporting organizations that threaten the Gulf’s stability. They said the move t was sad to learn yesterday that three GCC coun- was made to protect their security. The decision comes tries withdrew their ambassadors from Qatar. The ahead of Egypt’s critical April presidential election. IUnited Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain In a last ditch effort, foreign ministers from the Gulf issued a joint statement saying that the move was “a Cooperation Council met Tuesday in Riyadh to try and means to protect the security and stability of their “persuade” Qatar to keep up its end of a largely opaque countries,” emphasizing at the same time their com- deal struck in November, a statement from the three mitment “to serve the interests of all the peoples of countries read. the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).” Continued on Page 13 It is disappointing that such a rift happens in the GCC two weeks before a scheduled and important Arab summit. The GCC relations have advanced in the last couple of years and reached a high level of Telecom law understanding and unity. People travel within the GCC only with an ID card. We have so much under- passed amid standing and share a common ground. All of us enjoy the same rights. We can open businesses and spying claims rent apartments in each other’s countries. Even trade between each other is like trading at home. By B Izzak Many other Arab countries wanted to be part of this union. Actually, Gulf people were dreaming to KUWAIT: The National Assembly yesterday over- see more understanding between each other. We whelmingly passed the long-awaited telecommuni- were dreaming of the railway network which will cations and information technology regulation law bring us closer. We were dreaming of a single cur- amid allegations by a lawmaker that some foreign rency. So the last thing we need is the derailing of embassies and mobile operators were using bug- the planned railway network. A rift between us will ging devices. Thirty-eight MPs passed the law in the benefit nobody but our enemies. first reading while two abstained. The second and final reading of the law is expected to take place No matter how big the dispute is, it could be next week. talked over and solved between countries sharing The law calls for the establishment of a telecom traditionally good relations and customs. Unity is and information technology commission that will more important and needed than disunity. Politics take over the regulation of the key sector from the can change from one day to another. The enemy of communications ministry. Kuwait is the only Gulf yesterday can become tomorrow’s friend and vice state not to have such a commission which is very versa. I hope that GCC countries will not get carried essential for the development of telecom services. away and continue their dispute when they see that During the debate over the law, Shiite MP Saleh everybody in the world is looking after their own Ashour said that he has evidence that a number of interests. foreign embassies were bugging calls and charged Unity is the only way ahead of us. As it is we have that some mobile companies were doing the same. enough disputes in the Arab world. We don’t need He provided no names or details. more instability. We do not need turmoil every- But Communications Minister Essa Al-Kandari where. Let our peninsula continue to be a peaceful told Ashour to provide him with evidence and heaven. We cannot bank on foreign and distant vowed he will refer the issue to the public prosecu- countries to protect us. At the end of the day, every tion. Ashour said that he will provide him with the country is looking after its own interests. evidence, adding that the spying was being done Like I have said many times: Our interests are in with the prior knowledge of the government. staying united. Continued on Page 13 Iran weapons shipment to Gaza seized by Israel JERUSALEM: Israel said it intercepted a ship yester- that the ship was carrying weapons “capable of strik- day carrying an Iranian shipment of advanced rockets ing anywhere in Israel”. Iran’s Arabic-language Al-Alam bound for Palestinian militants, claiming it proved television channel quoted a military official in the Tehran could not be trusted in international nuclear Islamic republic as denying the Israeli report, calling it talks. The announcement came hours after Israel said “totally without foundation”. it struck two Hezbollah fighters as they tried to plant a Coinciding with a visit to the United States by its bomb near the Syrian-Israeli frontier and just over a Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel latched week after Israel reportedly bombed the Iran-backed onto the weapons shipment to chide Western powers group inside Lebanon for the first time since 2006. for negotiating with Tehran over its nuclear program. Israel has long accused Iran and Syria of providing “While Iran is conducting these talks, smiling to the military aid to Hezbollah and to Palestinian militant international community, it continues to arm terrorist groups, and the military spokesman’s office tweeted Continued on Page 13 LOCAL THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2014 KUWAIT: His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah pictured with officials after distributing the certificates. Amir sponsors KU graduation ceremony KUWAIT: Under the auspices of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and with the attendance of His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Kuwait University (KU) Graduation Ceremony for the academic year 2012-2013 was held yesterday at Sheikh Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Theater at Shuwaikh Campus. His Highness the Crown Prince was greeted upon arrival to the venue by Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education Ahmad Al-Mulaifi, KUPresident Dr. Abdellatif Ahmad Al-Bader, and KU colleges professors and staff. The ceremony was also attended by National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem, senior sheikhs, His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al- Hamad Al-Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Deputy Amir Diwan Minister Sheikh Ali Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah, top state officials, and graduates’ families. The ceremony began with a recitation of the Holy Quran join it every year. He pointed out that over 40,000 students are students with high quality education and training which pre- sorship of this ceremony to stress on his care for education and playing of the national anthem. Then Minister Al-Mulaifi currently studying in the university’s sixteen colleges. He pared them to better serve their homeland and achieve its and encouraging new generations to do their best and serve addressed the gathering on the occasion. In his speech, Al- lamented Kuwait university is bearing the brunt of the short- higher interests. their country. Mulaifi thanked His Highness the Amir for his sponsorship of age of government universities.