LOCAL SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2014 Boeing delivers Kuwait first C-17 Globemaster

LONG BEACH, California: Boeing employees emphatically waved American and Kuwaiti flags on Thursday as officials from the Kuwait Air Force accepted delivery of that nation’s first C-17 military airlifter. The ceremony at Boeing’s C-17 plant in Long Beach was a testament to the relevance of the Globemaster III more than two decades after its first flight. “It is always a great privilege to deliver a C-17, but it is an extremely high honor when that delivery is to a brand-new member of the C-17 global family,” said Nan Bouchard, Boeing vice president and C-17 program manager, to the assembled group. The event under a hot sun also served as a reminder that the aircraft facility’s days are numbered, as Boeing announced last year that it will close the plant in 2015 Shatha Hasoon Abadi Al-Johar because of insufficient orders. “We’re happy to have a new customer,” said Stan Klemchuk, president of the United Aerospace Workers Local 148, which represents 1,100 C-17 machinists and support staff. “We’re proud of this aircraft. My members are resilient and will get through this. It’s a happy day and a sad day.” This is the first of two C-17 planes that Kuwait has ordered. The second is set for delivery in the summer. Unlike most oth- er C-17 aircraft that Boeing has delivered, the Kuwait plane is not painted all in Air Force gray. Instead, the 174-foot-long craft has a custom paint job with bright white along the top half of the fuselage and the Kuwaiti flag colors separating the white from the traditional gray underneath. The bright white accentuates the lettering in English and Arabic that reads “Kuwait Air Force” on the nose and tail of the plane. “When this C-17 arrives delivering humanitarian aid or disaster relief any- where in the world, people in need will know that the aid came from Kuwait,” said Col. Abdullah Al Foudari, deputy com- mander of the Kuwait Air Force. Qatar is the other country that has received a C-17 with a similar eye-catching paint job. Bouchard praised the Boeing paint team, including Tony Giamberdino, manager of the C-17 paint shop. “We had the challenge to paint this as a decorative paint job, which we don’t usually do,” Giamberdino said. “Our saying in the paint Mutref Al-Mutref Balqis shop, because we know we’re closing, is we want to finish with pride.” A six-person Kuwaiti crew will fly the plane home accompanied by a US crew. The Kuwaiti crew recently com- pleted several months of training on operating the plane. The Popular singers enthral Kuwaiti audience C-17 plant has 19 more planes to deliver before closing in late 2015. —Daily Breeze By Nawara Fattahova festival. Najwa released her first album in his performance at 3:40 am. were teenagers. The second part of the 1989. She only sings in Lebanese slang, The forth concert of the Hala February concert witnessed a performance by the KUWAIT: The third concert of the Hala although other Arab singers are now Musical Festival took place on Friday young Yemeni singer Balqis, who is the Inspection campaigns February Musical Festival was held on singing in all dialects. She concluded at night, also at the Ice Skating Rink. It start- daughter of popular singer Ahmad Fathi. Thursday night at the Ice Skating Rink. It 1:10 am. Saudi veteran singer Abadi Al- ed at 10:10 pm with the young Kuwaiti She started her performance at 11:45 pm. around Kuwait started at 10:20 pm with Iraqi singer Johar was the third star of this concert. singer Mutref Al-Mutref. He is the son of Her modern and fast-paced songs roused By Hanan Al-Saadoun Shatha Hasoon, who is the first Iraqi He came onstage at 1:40 am with his the late singer Yousuf Al-Mutref, and the audience to try to dance and police- singer participating in the festival, but popular song “Dukhun”, which was 20 became popular playing the oud as his men took a woman with her daughters KUWAIT: The traffic department carried out several sur- she entered the country on a Moroccan minutes long. He started singing in 1968 father. He released his first song in 2011 out of the theatre. Balqis has only two prise inspection campaigns in all six governorates during passport. She participated in the reality when he was only 15 years old. He is also and became very popular, especially with albums released, yet she is very popular the last week resulting in registering 41,326 citations. TV show Star Academy three years ago known as the king of oud. During his sec- the younger generation. During his per- in the Gulf region. She concluded at 1:05 During the campaign 1,388 cars were impounded and 167 and has released one album. Shatha sur- ond song, a technical problem occurred formance, he played on the oud for three am. The last star of this concert was Saudi people were taken into custody. prised the audience by singing songs at the theatre and the lighting system of his songs, and he sang two of his veteran Rabih Saqer, who came onstage Statistic showed 5,710 violations in the capital, 347 cars about Kuwait with young girls onstage. went down. The stage went dark and father’s songs. He concluded at 11:25 pm at 1:45 am. The audience welcomed him impounded and 14 persons were referred to the traffic She concluded at 11:30 pm. spotlights had to be switched on, but with great applause. with great applause. Rabih started his department, while 6,270 citations were issued in Farwaniya The second star of the concert was Johar continued singing and didn’t stop. Surprisingly, the theatre was com- career in 1983, when he released his first governorate, and 156 cars impounded while 20 persons popular Lebanese signer Najwa Karam, He remarked humorously that whether it pletely full and more seats were opened album. Hundreds of his Saudi fans came were detained. Meanwhile, 8617 citations were issued in who came onstage at midnight. This is is was a mistake or deliberate, he will on the side for single spectators without to Kuwait to attend this concert. He con- Hawally, 105 vehicles impounded, 39 persons detained and the third time she has participated in this keep singing with his fans. He concluded families. The majority of the audience cluded a few minutes after 4:00 am. four motorcycles confiscated. In Ahmadi 5896 citations and 189 cars impounded. Assembly panel to reject security pact Govt able to convince MPs

By A Saleh “has tackled Kuwait’s reservation bloodshed. He expressed regret for the regarding some terms of the GCC heart-breaking events in Syria and KUWAIT: The parliament’s foreign Security Pact, in harmony with the hoped the Geneva conciliation talks affairs committee is expected to reject Kuwaiti laws and legislations.” would end up with peaceful solutions; the Gulf security pact when it releases Al-Zayani said the treaty, which had at least by securing safe corridors for its anticipated report on March 3, been proposed a long time ago, would the stranded civilians. according to informed sources. “contribute to coordination among the On Iran, Al-Zayani called on Tehran Committee members are currently GCC police and security apparatuses “to translate its rhetoric into facts and divided on the controversial agreement. and bolster joint security effort” among express good intentions toward the While Hamad Al-Harshani and MPs the Council countries. regional states.” He also urged it to stop Kamel Al-Awadhi reportedly support it, Joint GCC action is governed by cer- meddling in internal affairs of other MPs Saleh Ashour and Hamdan Al-Azmi tain strategies and accords “that regu- countries, pull its forces from Syria and already announced that they reject it. late the work, and help in realizing the end its occupation of the UAE islands The decision of committee chairman aspired integration (of the member “so that it could address positive signals MP Ali Al-Rashed is expected to decide states) at the economic, security and of its desire to ensure the region securi- whether the panel approves it or not. In defense levels,” he said. ty and stability.” this regard, the sources revealed that Consultations are proceeding Rashed has made the decision to reject among the Council members regarding Nuclear file the pact after discussing it recently with establishment of the GCC federation The GCC has repeatedly urged Iran members of his ‘Al-Masar’ political “which has drawn applause on part of to withdraw from the UAE islands; Abu group. Even if the committee rejects it, the (top) leaders,” Al-Zayahi said, adding Moussa, Greater and Lesser Tunbs, the final decision on the security pact that result of the final consultations which it occupied in 70s of the past cen- will be for the parliament where the would be referred to the top leaders at tury. government is believed to have the the Riyadh summit. As to the international accord capability to “convince a large number Al-Zayani indicated that the GCC is regarding the Iranian nuclear file, he of MPs to approve it”, according to the important for the regional stability, par- affirmed that the GCC states welcome sources who spoke on the condition of ticularly in shadow of current surround- the agreement noting that this file is anonymity. Kuwait officially signed the ing disturbances, noting “the sagacious not only linked to the military aspects GCC security pact in Saudi Arabia last policy it adopts” towards these dramatic but also to security and safety issues. year but it only becomes effective after events. Affirming the GCC countries con- the National Assembly ratifies it. Liberal, GCC states’ external policies are cerns due to the controversial safety of Sunni and Shiite politicians from inside based on non-intervention in the oth- the Iranian nuclear installations, he and outside the parliament have voiced ers’ domestic affairs, renunciation of vio- expressed hope that the accord their rejection to the agreement on the lence, resolving disputes with peaceful between Iran and the super powers grounds that it contains articles that means, according to international laws, would help in assuring the GCC coun- contradict with the Kuwaiti constitu- and clearing the region of weapons of tries. He also hoped Iran would join the tion. mass destruction. international nuclear safety conven- On Friday, Al-Watan daily reported Regarding the GCC role toward the tions. Turning to Lebanon, the GCC chief that the Cabinet can secure votes of at regional developments, he said the held Hezbollah responsible for the least 25 MPs in favor of the pact when it council had given support to Yemen, country security deterioration, affirming is put up for voting, likely next month. through the GCC Initiative, affirming that the organization intervention in That number, combined with the that due to this initiative, as well as wis- neighboring Syria drew problems to the Cabinet’s votes, is enough to pass the dom of the Yemeni leaders, the nation country. agreement which needs half of the has been spared being mired in a civil He affirmed the Palestinian cause house’s 50-seat vote to be approved. Al- war. Yemen has passed a crucial stage in would remain the core issue at the Qabas reported yesterday that while implementation of the initiative and its regional level and expressed gratitude several MPs have announced plans to executive mechanisms after concord to US Secretary of State John Kerry for vote against the pact, the lack of a was reached on the document, released the efforts he has been exerting to try “coherent and focused opposition in by the national dialogue convention, he resolve it. the parliament makes it difficult to over- said, expressing hope that the country The United States is a great power come the government’s expected tac- would succeed in restoring stability and and has interests in the region, thus it tics,” according to sources quoted in the development. must play an effective and strategic role report, who added that the govern- On Syria, he said the crisis file is in to resolve the regional crises, the GCC ment “picked the right time” to pass it. the hands of the Arab League, and secretary general affirmed. reaching a solution to the problem rests With respect of Egypt, Al-Zayani said Joint action with the international community, its security is crucial to all regional coun- Meanwhile, Secretary General of the namely the United Nations Security tries hoping the “road map” would be GCC Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani has Council, stressing on necessity of taking fruitful and help the nation restore its affirmed that the GCC Supreme Council effective steps to resolve it and halt the regional leading role.