RAMADAN 27, 1442 AH SUNDAY, MAY 9, 2021 16 Pages Max 43º Min 27º 150 Fils Established 1961 ISSUE NO: 18430 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net Kuwait’s travel agencies doubtful Jerusalem clashes wound Newcastle dent Leicester’s about industry rebound this year more than 200 Palestinians Champions League bid 3 5 15 Fajr 03:32 Shurooq 05:00 Dhuhr 11:44 Asr 15:20 Maghrib 18:29 Isha 19:54 EU invites ‘concrete’ US plan on vaccine patents Virus deaths top 4,000 in India as pope calls for patent waivers PORTO, Portugal: Europe yesterday passed the table,” Michel said at an EU summit in of others”. “A variant of this virus is closed the ball back to Washington in a debate over Portugal that discussed that subject, among nationalism, which prevents, for example, an Saudi: Only vaccinated COVID vaccine patents, pushing the US for a others. internationalism of vaccines,” he said. concrete proposal and a commitment to He added that the EU had doubts about The World Health Organization, India and can return to workplace export much-needed jabs. Germany’s the idea being a “magic bullet” in the short South Africa have all called for patents to be Chancellor Angela Merkel, speaking after a term and encouraged “all the partners to facil- temporarily suspended. RIYADH: Saudi Arabia said Friday ministry said it has administered summit of EU and Indian leaders, said the EU itate the export of doses.” France’s skepticism Meanwhile, new COVID-19 deaths surged that employees will only be allowed more than 10 million coronavirus had exported much of its own production and was plain, with President Emmanuel Macron past 4,000 for the first time in India yesterday to return to their workplace in per- vaccine doses, in a country with a that America should follow suit. declaring “patents are not the priority”. in one of the world’s worst outbreaks, as the son once vaccinated against population of over 34 million. “Now that a further part of the American Influential voices support the push to pope called for patent waivers to “allow uni- COVID-19. Vaccination will become The kingdom has reported more population has been vaccinated, I hope that waive patents, not least that of Pope Francis, versal access to the vaccine.” The call for a “mandatory condition” for the than 423,000 coronavirus infections we can come to a free exchange of compo- who criticized putting “the laws of the market waivers has gained momentum after the face-to-face return of public and and more than 7,000 deaths from nents and an opening of the market for vac- or intellectual property above the laws of love United States announced its surprise support private sector employees, the min- COVID-19 since the pandemic cines,” she said. European Council chief and the health of humanity”. for such a scheme to enable adequate vaccine istry of human resources and social began. On Sunday, the government Charles Michel said the bloc was ready to The Pope expressed his backing for “uni- supplies to fight the raging pandemic. development said in a statement, said it will permit citizens immu- discuss a US offer to suspend patent protec- versal access to the vaccine and the tempo- India now accounts for nearly half of the urging workers to “begin the nized against COVID-19 to travel tion on vaccines-once the details are clear. rary suspension of intellectual property world’s new known cases according to an AFP process” to get a jab. The health abroad from May 17. —AFP “We are ready to engage on this topic, as rights”, condemning the “virus of individual- database, and it reported a national record soon as a concrete proposal would be put on ism” that “makes us indifferent to the suffering 4,187 new deaths yesterday. — AFP 2 Established 1961 Sunday, May 9, 2021 Local Kuwait FM: Amir’s letter to Moroccan King highlights solid, strong bilateral relations Kuwait, Morocco mark 60 years of diplomatic relations RABAT: Kuwait’s Foreign Minister and State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah said Friday “the written letter to Moroccan King, which was deliv- ered during a meeting with Prince Moulay Rashid bin Hassan II, included praise for the solid, strong, and historical relations between the two coun- tries.” Sheikh Dr Ahmad had delivered the letter from His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to King of Morocco Mohammad VI during a meeting with Prince Moulay in Rabat earlier on Friday. In a press conference, Sheikh Dr Ahmad pointed out that this year marks the anniversary of 60 years since the beginning of diplomatic relations between the State of Kuwait and the Kingdom of Morocco. He added that there are common visions and RABAT: Kuwait’s Foreign Minister and State Minister approaches for the political leadership in the two for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser Al- nations to launch another platform for deeper rela- Mohammad Al-Sabah delivers to Prince Moulay tions and more fertile prospects this year, hoping for Rashid bin Hassan II a letter from His Highness the another “positive turning point” in which all matters Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah attends a press conference with are discussed with the aim of strengthening and King of Morocco Mohammad VI. — KUNA photos his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita. consolidating relations at all levels and in all fields. On the meeting with Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita, the Foreign Minister said that dis- doubling of momentum in which interests would be to discussing all issues and developments on the Ahmad also mentioned Morocco as being was the cussion focused on the ongoing preparations for expanded and commonalities maximized. Sheikh Arab and regional arenas, as well as international first supporter of Kuwait membership in the Arab the work of the Moroccan-Kuwaiti Joint Higher Dr Ahmad added that the meeting also delved into affairs. League, in addition to the firm stance of the late Committee, which is supposed to convene this year lessons learned by the two countries in combating The Kuwaiti minister recalled the “historical and Moroccan King Hassan II towards the Iraqi inva- in the Moroccan capital, Rabat. He emphasized the coronavirus pandemic, including strengthening honorable” Moroccan stands, whether through sion of Kuwait in 1990, and the support for Kuwaiti that the Higher Joint Committee, which includes the health systems in the two countries, enhancing Kuwaiti-Moroccan relations, and various historical legitimacy in a firm position with the conscience of different sectors, would give a new spirit and a food security, exchanging experiences, in addition visits of the leaders from both countries. Sheikh Dr the entire Kuwaiti people. — KUNA throughout history. We are also marking this year on strengthening women’s political participation in carbon emissions by 2050. Europe Day and the 10th anniversary of the EU diplomatic service Kuwait ahead of the parliamentary elections, in co- “It is a fact that when it comes to the COVID-19 i.e. European External Action Service ‘EEAS’. The operation with local authorities. pandemic, no one is safe until everyone is safe. launch of the EEAS on 1 January 2011 was a major “Kuwait and the European Union co-hosted in Therefore, the EU is working hard to accelerate the another year of step in the European integration process, estab- the past international donor and relief conferences internal roll out of COVID-19 vaccines. At the same lished with the aim of more coherence, cooperation for Syria, Iraq, and the Rohingya people. In March, time, the EU is already contributing in a very signifi- strong European - and consistency in EU foreign policy. the EU hosted the fifth Brussels Conference on sup- cant way to the global vaccination drive via exports “The relationship between the State of Kuwait porting the future of Syria and the region to and the international COVAX facility. This way, the and the European Union is truly unique. Kuwait was advance the peace process and finally put an end to EU is helping low and middle -income countries to Kuwaiti relations the first GCC country to sign a Cooperation the humanitarian crisis as well as finding a sustain- vaccinate their population. When we speak about KUWAIT: Dr Cristian Arrangement with the European Union, which is a able political solution after 10 years of the conflict the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to pay trib- Tudor, European Union cornerstone in our bilateral relations. This in Syria. Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser ute to health workers all over the world including in Ambassador to Kuwait, Arrangement has also resulted in the convening of Al-Sabah represented Kuwait in the Conference Europe and Kuwait for their tremendous work in released the following the First Senior Officials’ Meeting between both and reiterated Kuwait’s unwavering support to the combating the pandemic. statement marking sides, also a first for GCC countries, in November Syrian people. “As we celebrate Europe Day during the holy Europe Day and celebrat- 2018. This Cooperation Arrangement has also paved “The EU Delegation in Kuwait is keen on pro- month of Ramadan this year, I would like to avail of ing the relationship the way for both sides to deepen dialogue and to moting people-to-people relations, as an important this opportunity to send my greetings to HH the between Kuwait and the engage in detailed discussions on various areas component for developing solid and longstanding Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber European Union: such as trade, investment, economy, human rights, relations between the EU and Kuwait.