SUBSCRIPTION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2017 MUHARRAM 6, 1439 AH www.kuwaittimes.net World’s heaviest Iraq hangs 42 Gulf Cup run Late rule call woman dies in militants on into problems helps Falcons UAE hospital6 death row8 as11 row rages pound16 Lions NA will not be dissolved; Min 28º Max 44º Speaker denies rumors High Tide 02:38 & 16:05 Low Tide Next Assembly term to open October 24 09:44 & 21:37 32 PAGES NO: 17339 150 FILS By B Izzak Kurds shrug off threats, vote in referendum KUWAIT: National Assembly Speaker Marzouk Al- Ghanem yesterday denied rumors that claim the ARBIL: Voting began in northern Iraq yesterday in an Assembly will be dissolved soon, saying the rumors are independence referendum organized by Kurdish politically motivated to create tension. Ghanem said that authorities, ignoring pressure from Baghdad, threats such rumors have been circulating since the start of the from neighboring Turkey and Iran, and international first legislative term by “sides well known to all” with the warnings it may ignite yet more regional conflict. The aim to incite tension and encourage MPs to escalate vote, expected to deliver a comfortable “yes” for inde- threats notwithstanding the domestic and regional developments. pendence, is not binding. The Speaker however did not name any sides. “There However, it is designed to give Massoud Barzani, is nothing related to the dissolution of the Assembly at who heads the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), present. This decision is part of the powers enjoyed by a mandate to negotiate the secession of the oil pro- the Amir,” Ghanem said. Asked about expectations that ducing region with Baghdad and neighboring states. the next term will be hot taking into account a large For Iraqi Kurds - the largest ethnic group left stateless number of threats by MPs to grill ministers, the Speaker when the Ottoman empire collapsed a century ago - said that grillings and other constitutional tools are part the referendum offers a historic opportunity despite of the lawmakers’ constitutional rights and its use is sub- the intense international pressure to call it off. ject to their decisions. “We have seen worse, we have seen injustice, Ghanem also announced that the next Assembly term killings and blockades,” said Talat, waiting to cast a will open on October 24 as an Amiri decree was issued yes- vote in the regional capital of Arbil, as group of smil- terday authorizing the Assembly to start the term on ing women, in traditional colorful Kurdish dress, October 24. The Speaker said the date had been chosen emerged from the school showing their fingers after coordination with the Amir and the government. stained with ink, a sign that they voted. The Kurds also In the meantime, more MPs announced their backing say the vote acknowledges their crucial contribution of a draft law calling to reduce the retirement age for in confronting Islamic State after it overwhelmed the men and women and make the retirement optional for Iraqi army in 2014 and seized control of a third of Iraq. beneficiaries. A large number of lawmakers have submit- But with roughly 30 million ethnic Kurds scattered ted a request to give priority to debating the draft law at over international borders across the region, Tehran the start of the new Assembly term next month. and Ankara fear the spread of separatism to their own MP Mubarak Al-Harees said that retirement for Kuwaiti Kurdish populations. ARBIL: Members of a Kurdish Peshmerga battalion show their ink-stained fingers in front of a Kurdish flag employees must be granted after 15 to 20 years of serv- Continued on Page 11 after voting in the Kurdish independence referendum in Arbil yesterday. — AFP ice without linking it to a specific age. Continued on Page 11 LOCAL TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2017 KUWAIT: His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al- His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with Egyptian Ambassador to Kuwait Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with National Security Bureau Chief Sheikh Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with Engineer Abdulaziz Abdullatif Al-Ibrahim. Yasser Atef. —KUNA photos Thamer Al-Ali Al-Sabah. Crown Prince receives Egyptian Ambassador KUWAIT: His Highness the Deputy Amir and Palace yesterday. Ambassador Atef delivered a President Abdelfatah Al-Sisi to attend the Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah His Highness Sheikh Nawaf received National Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al- letter during the meeting to His Highness the World Youth Forum in Sharm El Sheikh from and Director of protocols and ceremonials at Security Bureau Chief Sheikh Thamer Al-Ali Al- Jaber Al-Sabah received Egyptian Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- 4th to 10th of November, 2017. The meeting His Highness’ Diwan Sheikh Mubarak Sabah Sabah. His Highness also received Engineer Ambassador to Kuwait Yasser Atef at Seif Sabah, including an invitation from Egyptian was attended by Deputy Minister of Amiri Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah. Meanwhile, Abdulaziz Abdullatif Al-Ibrahim. —KUNA KUWAIT: Acting Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah (second from left) chairs the Cabinet’s meeting yesterday. — KUNA Acting PM briefs ministers about external missions KUWAIT: The Cabinet held its regular weekly recent mission, headed by His Highness the procedures for entry of imported products. KUWAIT: Khadija Meftah, JW Marriot Hotel’s Cluster Director of Marketing session at Seif Palace yesterday, under chair- Premier, participating in the 72nd session of the They studied another recommendation on Communications presented a cake to Kuwait Times yesterday in celebration of its manship of the Acting Prime Minister and UN General Assembly in New York. During the Touristic Enterprises Company’s seaside proj- 56th anniversary. — Photo by Joseph Shagra Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al- session, His Highness the Premier called for bol- ects. They decided to form a special panel to Hamad Al-Sabah. Following the session, stering global security and stability and com- tackle any snags obstructing execution of the Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Acting bating terrorism. He also spoke about the coor- ventures. Minister of Information Sheikh Mohammad dination meeting of the foreign ministers of the Germans in Kuwait Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah stated that Organization of Islamic Cooperation, held on Mexico’s earthquake Sheikh Sabah Khaled briefed the officials about sidelines of the UNGA session, addressing peace Meanwhile, the Cabinet expressed condo- his latest visit to Turkey where he partook in a and security in Arab and Islamic nations. lences to the United Mexican States on the witness Merkel’s win Kuwaiti delegation headed by His Highness the Moreover, he shed light on his participation recent earthquake rumbled across the nation Prime Minster. The mission to Turkey tackled in the latest Arab ministerial meeting, dis- claiming scores of deaths. The Cabinet By Ben Garcia cooperation in the economic and investment cussing the Palestinian cause and other regional expressed heartfelt condolences to the Mexican domains, he said, also noting that the talks with issues and his partaking in a meeting by the president, government, people and families of KUWAIT: The German community in the Turkish leaders dealt with means of bolster- international coalition for combating the IS ter- the victims. Also, the Cabinet mourned the Kuwait gathered around a big screen at ing international peace and security. rorist group. demise of Hamad Mubarak Al-Ayyar, a lawmaker the ambassador’s residence in Mishref The ministers examined a recommendation and ex-minister who passed away recently. The Sunday evening to witness the UN General Assembly by the economic affairs committee regarding ministers recalled his sincere efforts at various announcement of the winner in the Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled addressed his custom facilities, where the ministers tasked the levels for serving Kuwait and prayed for his German elections. As expected, incum- fellow executives about his participation in a General Directorate for Customs to minimize blessed soul. — KUNA bent Chancellor Angela Merkel won, and will now serve the European power- house for a fourth term. Governance conference to boost efficiency: MP “For me, I want continuity and I like [Merkel’s] style of leadership,” said one KUWAIT: A forthcoming confer- for October 10-11 would help prop in the government sector. German voter who asked that his name ence on governance will prove up inspection bodies in the coun- The Kuwaiti lawmaker pointed be withheld. “We expected Merkel to win instrumental in improving perform- try. On the conference, he revealed out that the event will bring again,” Ambassador of Germany to Kuwait ance within state institutions, par- it would revolve around the notion together senior officials and parlia- Karlfried Bergner said. “The sentiment of ticularly, in the fields of finance, leg- of governance in the realms of leg- mentarians, all of whom will delve many Germans in my country are almost islation and administration, a islation, finance and administration. into the correlation between solid similar to our expats community around Kuwaiti lawmaker said yesterday. Dalal pointed out that the confer- governance and rapid develop- the world, so we expect continuity of pro- Ambassador of Germany to MP Mohammad Al-Dalal, who ence will also examine the govern- ment. He added that he is sanguine grams introduced by our leader. The new Kuwait Karlfried Bergner heads an ad hoc committee deal- ment’s contributions to anti-cor- that the conference would yield KUWAIT: MP Mohammad Al-Dalal government will be formed after Merkel ing with legislative legal affairs, told ruption efforts and measures to concrete steps that would lead to speaks during a press conference was announced winner.” “We expect that the economic policy the press that the conference slated ensure transparency and integrity better governance.