Barzani Urges Kuwait to Invest in Kurdistan
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SUBSCRIPTION SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 2015 SHAABAN 26, 1436 AH No: 16550 Indian investors Strauss-Kahn Warriors rout urged to take part acquitted in Cavaliers to in Kuwait2 projects French15 vice trial pull48 level Barzani urges Kuwait to invest in Kurdistan Min 32º 150 Fils PM hails opening of Kuwaiti consulate Max 46º IRBIL: Prime Minister of Iraq’s Kurdistan region Nechervan Barzani (center) meets a Kuwaiti media delegation including Kuwait Times Editor-in-Chief Abd Al-Rahman Al-Alyan (left) yesterday. — KUNA (See Page 3) IRBIL: Nechervan Barzani, Prime Minister of Iraq’s Kurdistan region, lauded the recent opening of a Kuwaiti consulate in the northern region, but noted the need for greater foreign invest- Jets hit Sanaa heritage ‘jewel’ ments, namely by Kuwait, to help in shoring up the ailing domestic economy. Barzani, during a meeting with visiting SANAA: UNESCO condemned an apparent attack on the enshrined in these sites have been irreparably damaged or Kuwaiti media personalities, affirmed that the Kurdish adminis- Yemeni capital’s old quarter yesterday that killed five people destroyed. This destruction will only exacerbate the humanitari- tration encourages current Kuwaiti investments, but hopes and destroyed homes in the centuries-old heritage site an situation and I reiterate my call to all parties to respect and these businesses are boosted. described as a “jewel” of Islamic culture. The incident occurred a protect cultural heritage in Yemen,” she said. He underscored the significance of the recent opening of a day before Yemen’s warring factions are to meet for UN-spon- Naji Saleh Thawaba, head of Yemen’s General Organization Kuwaiti consulate in the northern Iraqi region, but stated: “We sored talks in Geneva in their first bid to break a deadlock after for the Preservation of the Historic Cities of Yemen also con- need greater participation on the part of the State of Kuwait,” more than two months of Saudi-led air strikes. demned the attack. “I never imagined that this site could one hoping to see more Kuwaiti-funded enterprises in the region. The coalition led by Riyadh denied claims that it had carried day become a target; even if there were enemy (positions) in Following the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime in 2003, the out an air strike there, suggesting instead that a rebel ammuni- the area, it should never be a target for air strikes,” he told AFP. regional government embarked on the construction of tion cache may have exploded. Sanaa’s old city has been inhab- The upper storeys of houses rising above ground floors con- Kurdistan, partly by utilizing oil proceeds to develop various sec- ited for more than 2,500 years and was a major centre for the structed of stone are built of rammed earth and burnt brick, tors including the industrial and agricultural fields. “However, propagation of Islam, boasting more than 100 mosques, 14 with each building decorated with geometric patterns of fired emergence of Daesh last year surprised everybody and led to public baths and more than 6,000 houses built before the 11th bricks and white gypsum, inspired by traditional Islamic art. slowing down the construction process,” Barzani said. century. It was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in The spokesman for the coalition, Brigadier General Ahmed Now, the region is gripped with difficult economic and finan- 1986. Al-Assiri, said there was no raid on the site. “For sure we did not cial conditions, he said, explaining the dire need for external Residents said a predawn strike was the first direct hit there conduct any operation inside (the) city,” Assiri told AFP. “We investments to shore up the local ailing economy. “Daesh” is an since the launch of the campaign against Iranian-backed know that those sites are very important.” He said rebels may Arabic acronym that refers to the Islamic State. The group has Houthi rebels in March. A missile hit the Qassimi neighborhood have been hiding weapons or ammunition in the area. “Several occupied large swathes of land in Syria and Iraq, namely in without exploding, but killed five residents, including a woman days before they had an explosion in one of their storage” Anbar province, but has gotten embroiled in ongoing fighting and a child, and destroyed three three-storey houses, medics areas, he said of the Houthi rebels. “So it could be one of these.” with troops of the Baghdad government and the Kurdish pesh- and witnesses said. “We saw the flashing light of the missile In Sanaa, there were conflicting statements from residents merga forces. launched from a plane. We expected it to explode, but it did about whether rebels had occupied one of the houses. The old The burden borne by the local administration has dramatical- not... We felt the impact of the missile when it hit the ground,” city has already suffered some damage from air strikes on near- ly increased, partly due to the influx of Iraqis and Syrians seeking said resident Ahmed Al-Ameri. by targets, including the defence ministry, prompting a protest safety, Barzani indicated, noting that Iraqi Kurdistan’s population UNESCO director general Irina Bokova said she was “pro- from UNESCO in May. Earlier this month, UNESCO also con- of four million has grown by 28 percent. There are fears that foundly distressed by the loss of human lives as well as by the demned air strikes that hit the ancient Great Dam of Marib, number of the refugees coming to the region will swell due to damage inflicted on one of the world’s oldest jewels of Islamic which was first built in the 8th century BC, in the city that was the ongoing violence in other parts of Iraq and neighboring urban landscape”. She said she was “shocked by the images of once the capital of the kingdom of Saba. The UN body said the Syria. Barzani urged Arab states to follow Kuwait’s example of these magnificent many-storeyed tower-houses and serene attack on the dam came a week after the national museum in offering generous aid to the refugees. Kuwait has hosted two gardens reduced to rubble”. “The historic value and memories Dhamar, in central Yemen, was “completely destroyed”. — AFP international conferences in which donors pledged billions of dollars in aid for Syrian refugees. — KUNA LOCAL SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 2015 Kuwait marks 54th Indian investors invited to take anniversary at ILO part in Kuwait development plan KUWAIT: Kuwait had so early realized the significant role of the International Labor Organization (ILO) for building the country’s modern renaissance of which work and workers are the basis. Today, NEW DELHI: Kuwait’s Ambassador to India Sami Mohammad Al- the country is marking the 54th anniversary at the ILO which Kuwait Suleiman called various Indian investors and bodies to contribute to the joined on 13 June 1961. Kuwaiti leadership’s plans to develop the country and transform it into Over the past decades, Kuwait has actively taken part in all con- an international commercial center by 2035. ferences and events held by the ILO, paying due attention to its reso- The Kuwaiti diplomat made his call during a round table meeting lutions and recommendations, which gained the country a distin- Thursday, hosted by the Kuwaiti embassy in cooperation with an organi- guished status on the international labor scene. Kuwait is an ILO zation on Indian policy studies, and with participation of representatives Member State that has ratified 19 ILO Conventions, including seven from the institute of defensive studies and analyses, Indian council for fundamental ones. international affairs, a number of Arab ambassadors, and a number of prominent figures in the Indian society. Suleiman invited Indian state Labor legislations and private bodies to take part in economic projects in Kuwait in order to The ILO, in cooperation with the Kuwait Ministry of Social Affairs contribute in the country’s new development plan to transform it into an and Labor and representatives of civil servants and private employ- international financial and commercial center, reiterating the availability ers, is keen on reviewing labor legislations, and supporting activities of a suitable investment atmosphere with a stable system, an open eco- that seek to build workers’ capabilities in line with the relevant inter- nomic policy, transparent laws and regulations, strategic locations, national criteria. In addition, Kuwait has supported all UN develop- strong currency, and an active financial system in the country. ment and economic programs. NEW DELHI: Kuwait’s Ambassador to India Sami Leading the Kuwaiti delegation to the International Labor Foreign investors The Kuwaiti government provides several incentives for foreign Mohammad Al-Suleiman speaks during a round Conference (ILC) in Geneva last month, Minister of Social Affairs and table meeting with Indian investors. —KUNA Labor and Minister of State for Planning and Development, Hind Al- investors, he said, adding that Kuwait also provides a basic infrastructure Subaih emphasized the country’s support to the ILO efforts to curb for investment, appropriate information and communication technolo- ing deep and friendly relations between the two countries leaderships unemployment and provide due protection to workers. She said gies, public facilities, and international guarantees through commercial and people. Kuwait is keen on applying ILO criteria, especially what is related to agreements that the government signed with the World Trade Exchange visits have contributed to bolstering the strong historic social justice, occupational safety and maternity