SUBSCRIPTION WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 2014 RAJAB 22, 1435 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Kuwait’s Victorious Modi Conspiracy Spurs rout Egyptian voters fights tears in theories Thunder strongly first address re-emerge as jet in series support3 Sisi to parliament7 search12 sputters opener20 Amir to visit Iran, turn Max 41º Min 26º ‘new page’ in relations High Tide 05:20 & 15:55 Trip to ‘open new vistas of bilateral cooperation’ Low Tide 10:37 & 23:29 40 PAGES NO: 16172 150 FILS TEHRAN: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- will be his first to Iran since becoming Amir in 2006. ing details. conspiracy theories Sabah will travel to Iran on May 31 amid a recent thaw Voicing optimism about the results of the planned Kuwait, home to a sizeable Shiite minority, is seen by in Tehran’s relations with Gulf states, the Iranian foreign visit, the spokeswoman said high-level communications some as a potential bridge between Shiite power Iran ministry said yesterday. Relations between Iran and the between both sides would surely help in further pro- and more wary and sometimes hostile Sunni Muslim Gulf states have been frosty for years, with disagree- moting and developing cooperation in new fields. She Gulf countries, such as Saudi Arabia. Sheikh Sabah, a Farming at ments over the unrest in Bahrain and the conflict in voiced hope that the visit would contribute to opening former foreign minister, is one of the region’s most Syria, before Hassan Rouhani was elected president of new vistas of bilateral cooperation, KUNA said. “The visit important diplomats, often acting as a mediator and the Islamic republic last June. Replying to a KUNA ques- (of the Amir), which is upon the invitation of President peacemaker. He has maintained good ties with Iran, schools tion during her weekly press briefing, Iranian Foreign Hassan Rouhani, will open a new chapter in relations of directly across the Gulf waterway, as well as with Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said Sheikh both countries,” she told reporters. Afkham said “several Kuwait’s large neighbors Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Sabah will visit Iran at the invitation of Rouhani. The trip agreements were expected to be signed”, without giv- Continued on Page 13 By Badrya Darwish Govt warns deficit ‘inevitable’ By B Izzak KUWAIT: Finance Minister Anas Al-Saleh warned yester- [email protected] day that the country will start posting a budget deficit within a few years if public spending continues to grow at a high rate, outpacing the increase in revenues. n Monday I was impressed with the new Speaking at the start of a special debate called by 10 banknotes and yesterday I was more MPs on the government policy to diversify sources of Oimpressed with the Ministry of Education income, the minister said that a budget deficit is which has a great futuristic plan for the students of “inevitable”, and this is not only the view of the govern- Kuwait. At the beginning, I thought it was a change ment but also that of the International Monetary Fund, in the curriculum. Removing dust from old books the World Bank and other institutions and economists. and introducing modern technologies that have The minister said that over the past 10 years ending swept all the old systems and taken over - be it 2013, the average annual growth of spending was 20.4 WhatsApp, iPad, Twitter, Instagram, etc. Education percent while the same for revenues was only 16.2 per- online, graduating online, giving your thesis online, cent, which means that the growth in spending out- getting your certificate online - you know what I paced that of revenues. “To meet the deficit that will mean, guys. But the education curriculum in occur, we will take from fiscal reserves” the minister said. Kuwait is still very sacred, like a holy book, and can- Undersecretary of the Finance Ministry Khalifa not be touched. Hamada told the session that continued growth in I’m sorry guys with the long intro - I drifted from spending will eventually lead to depleting Kuwait’s for- my main issue: Turning schools into farms. In the eign assets, currently estimated at KD 146 billion. beginning, I relished the idea. Why not? They are Hamada said that over the past years, current spending introducing a new topic of agriculture for kids to has been rising while capital spending (investment) has make them know and respect plants and trees. To been decreasing, adding that it was impossible for the help them appreciate and respect the environment state to continue with the wages and subsidies in this and greenery. way. But the project which is suggested is going far The official said that between the fiscal years beyond that. A video shows the minister of educa- 2004/2005 and 2012/2013, wages increased from KD 3.2 billion to KD 9.5 billion, a threefold rise or a 25 percent tion elaborating on this project, saying that it’s a KUWAIT: Finance Ministry Undersecretary Khalifa Hamada (right) speaks as Finance Minister Anas Al-Saleh annual rise on average. great project and blessing it. He said we should looks on during a session at the National Assembly yesterday. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat Continued on Page 13 teach kids how to plant in schools vegetables, fruits, grapes, mangoes, bananas, guavas, toma- toes, eggplants, etc, etc, etc. And to teach the kids Thai army declares martial law how to learn about the value of things like “the Smuggling cost of water, effort, seeds and time” and selling BANGKOK: Thailand’s army chief and hotel district. Troops were also court ruling has stoked tensions in produce. The ministry is willing to participate more of classified imposed martial law yesterday after positioned at TV stations where the kingdom, which has endured in this project by bringing professors and special- months of deadly anti-government broadcasts were suspended under years of political turmoil. ists to guide the kids in their farming project. protests caused political paralysis, but sweeping censorship orders, “Red Shirt” supporters of Yingluck Hello, we’re living in Kuwait where water is files foiled insisted the intervention did not although regular Thais appeared and her brother Thaksin Shinawatra, scarce as it is and the temperature can exceed over amount to yet another military coup. largely unfazed. The dismissal of who was deposed as premier in a 60 C in open areas in June, July, August and KUWAIT: Five people were arrested in connection with an Gun-toting troops fanned out after prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra 2006 coup, have warned of the threat attempt to smuggle classified documents in a large con- September. And then it can decrease to 45 C come martial law was declared in a dawn earlier this month in a controversial Continued on Page 13 tainer out of Kuwait. The container was stopped at the broadcast, as General Prayut Chan-O- October, so we’re one of the hottest and most arid Shuwaikh Port before it was put on a ship heading to Cha exploited century-old legislation spots on earth, unfortunately. Our summer stretch- India. The operation was carried out by state security offi- es beyond eight months. cials in coordination with customs officials, following that confers far-reaching powers on In the farms of Wafra, we’re struggling to pro- investigations about groups attempting to smuggle gov- the armed forces to act in an emer- duce proper vegetables because of a lack of fresh- ernmental, military and banking documents. gency. water. Brackish water they have enough, but it’s The documents include papers that belong to the But he left the caretaker civilian not suitable for most kinds of vegetables and interior and defense ministries, including police and mili- government in office and later invited plants. Some things like mango and banana trees tary IDs, according to a source with knowledge of the the country’s warring political factions are incredibly expensive to grow and they need investigations. Other documents include correspondence to sit down for talks, as the United very special and dedicated care. Specialists in between state departments, including ‘highly classified States, the EU, Japan and Southeast Wafra farms can hardly cope, so what do you letters,’ in addition to papers specifying details about bank Asian neighbours urged Thailand to expect from students? Are they going to roll up clients and their accounts in local banks. stay on a democratic track and their sleeves and plant in the empty spaces of the The documents also include top secret letters of the resolve its differences peacefully. Ministry of Education, Traffic General Department, Ministry school yard in their free hours? Thailand’s caretaker prime minister of Social Affairs and Kuwait University, said the source who Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan Leave alone the fantasy of marketing the pro- spoke to Al-Anbaa on the condition of anonymity. The duce from these school farms. I think the ministry issued his own plea for harmony in source did not provide further information about the sus- the country, telling reporters the gov- should equip the schools better with air condition- pects, or specified how they were arrested. The report also ing. So our students can sit in the classrooms and ernment wanted “peace and order to does not mention the size of the shipment confiscated, prevail in the country.” study. Leave agriculture for the agricultural author- BANGKOK: A Thai soldier mans a checkpoint as motorcyclists ride past but describes the smuggling attempt as ‘the first of its Soldiers and military vehicles were ity and Wafra and Abdali farms. kind’ in the country’s history. — Al-Anbaa near a site where pro-government demonstrators staged a rally on the seen in the heart of the capital’s retail outskirts of the capital yesterday.