Pages 15 & 16 THE FIRST ENGLISH LANGUAGE DAILY IN FREE KUWAIT markets basketball Established in 1977 / www.arabtimesonline.com Page 9 THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2021 / RAJAB 21, 1442 AH emergency number 112 NO. 17628 16 PAGES 150 FILS Duplicity, denial, deception and cover-up — Details Page 2 & 3 — More amnesty Kuwait grows 1.2 pct in Q3 KUWAIT CITY, March 3: In- terior Minister Sheikh Thamer Al-Ali has issued a decision to KUWAIT CITY, March 3, (KUNA): Kuwait’s econo- The contribution of the oil sector to the economy extend the deadline for residence my witnessed 1.2 percent growth in the third quarter of was worth KD 2.6 billion (USD 11.8 billion), some law violators until the end of this 2020 compared to the quarter prior, amounting to KD 33.5 percent. This value rose to KD 4.4 billion (USD month (March 31), reports Al- 8.6 billion (USD 28 billion), according to the Central 14.5 billion), the proportion of which is estimated at Anba daily quoting Interior Min- Statistical Bureau on Wednesday. 51.2 percent. istry sources. Based on initial estimates, the quarterly GDP at cur- Non-oil GDP dropped by 7.6 percent compared to The decision comes to give rent rates dropped by 20.3 percent during this period in 2019, which had an estimated value of KD 4.2 billion more time for violators to amend contrast to a year prior, where the GDP was estimated (USD 13.8 billion), with a contribution of 48.8 per- their status during the new dead- line, and a call to motivate them at KD 7.9 billion (USD 26 billion). cent. to take advantage of the opportu- Growth worth 25.9 percent from the second The contribution of oil and natural gas products nity to avoid being punished and quarter to the third was attributed to the recovery decreased from 53.2 percent to 51.2 percent, it said, harsh measures that are expected in global oil prices and an uptick in economic ac- citing a 40.4 percent drop in the added value of this to be taken by the ministry after tivities. activity compared with the year 2019. the end of the amnesty. Abadeh site before being sanitized. ‘Deep concern’ Opinion ON Tuesday, the National Coun- cil of Resistance of Iran held a press conference to elaborate upon the latest disclosures from Stop dancing with snakes, be government of decision the International Atomic Energy Agency regarding undeclared prior nuclear activities in Iran. On February 23, the IAEA is- sued its first report on presence of uranium particles at two sites that had not been previously identified as locations for nuclear enrich- ment or related activities. At the same time, the agency called at- tention to the persistent absence of a satisfying explanation for the earlier discovery of similar par- ticles at a third undeclared site. On Monday, the agency’s Executive Director Rafael Grossi spoke be- fore a meeting of the 35-member Board of Governors and expressed “deep concern” over the findings in the latest report, the publica- tion of which closely coincided with Iran’s decision to withdraw from the Additional Protocol to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The Additional Protocol stipu- lated that IAEA inspectors would have access to suspect sites on short notice in the country where it was implemented. By reversing that implementation, the Iranian regime has potentially hampered monitoring efforts that critics of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal be- lieved were already inadequate. The host of Tuesday’s press conference, NCRI Foreign Af- fairs Committee member Ali Sa- favi, pointed to remarks that the NCRI’s President-elect Maryam Rajavi had delivered in July KUNA photo 2015, when those negotiations HH the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah meets HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al -Sabah and members of the newly-appointed Cabinet. were drawing to a close. “Total implementation of the UN Secu- rity Council resolutions, in par- ticular total halt of enrichment, By Ahmed Al-Jarallah accepting the Additional Pro- Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times tocol, and free and unhindered access of the IAEA inspectors IT is an old government with four new faces ... but at least, Protect public funds to all suspected centers and fa- it is not a transitional or rather a caretaker government like cilities, are necessary in order for the previous one which had led to further paralysis of the the regime to give up its drive to state institutions. acquire nuclear weapons,” Mrs. Despite its old age, we hope it will better the situation of Constitution rules Rajavi said while criticizing the Kuwait. Otherwise, we will end up in square one after all Other Voices emerging agreement for falling the justifications given in the past weeks and months which far short of this. led to a crisis that was never experienced in Kuwait in the KUWAIT CITY, March A key complaint about the last six decades. content of the JCPOA was the in- 3, (KUNA): His Highness herent limits it placed on access All we hope is for His Highness the Prime Minister and the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al- for international inspectors. The the ministers to abide by the royal directives of His High- Between a President and MP Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah IAEA’s privilege of snap inspec- ness the Amir, and to have learned from past experiences so tions applied only to previously that they do not fall into the same traps or commit the same By Ali Ahmed Al-Baghli rona pandemic era which caused the called on government and disclosed sites, thus excluding mistakes they did in the past. Former Minister of Oil bankruptcy of hundreds of Kuwait’s Parliament Wednesday to the three that the agency identi- The current economic and financial situation is critical commercial enterprises, expatriate have “constructive coopera- fied in its latest report as having and sensitive amid the regional conditions. This neces- “ALLAH does not change what is in youths and families due to irrational tion” to address pressing is- been active years ago. Asked sitates the existence of a strong decision-making govern- a nation unless they change what is in decisions that are ill-considered, il- whether the NCRI’s information ment that is capable of confrontation and does not shiver themselves”. Last Monday, an honor- logical and unprecedented! sues and protect public funds pointed to those sites being as- in fear of parliamentary questioning or turn into a victim able sentence was imposed on former and promote rule of law in sociated with currently-ongoing the minute the MPs, collectively or individually, encroach O government, why are you with nuclear activity, Safavi empha- French President Nicolas Sarkozy. He some people and against others? Why line with the Constitution. sized that Iran’s longstanding on their powers, because they, through that are contradict- “I call upon the Legislative and Ex- ing the constitutionally stipulated principle of separation was sentenced to several years in pris- did your ministers of Health and Inte- efforts to conceal those sites are of powers. on for a petty crime, yet you ask us not rior not join the centenary gathering ecutive Authorities for constructive evidence that the regime has Indeed, it is a great challenge that His Highness the to express our admiration for the West, in support of the new MP with a loud cooperation, armed by our social fabric something significant to hide Prime Minister has to overcome ... otherwise, more weak- which you consider mouth?! It is an open movement to and national unity, to achieve national and should not have been trusted goals, address pressing issues and pro- when negotiating the limits of ac- ness awaits the prestige of the state. Therefore, he has to set infidels. He or they influence the court ruling that will be cess. the record straight. in the West apply issued against him - the MP - for violat- tect public funds, in line with the consti- tution, and the decisive and transparent To its credit, the JCPOA in- The MPs are here to legislate and monitor, and not to bul- the teachings of re- ing the law in broad daylight. cluded procedures for the IAEA ly a speciality minister through a journalist or an informant ligions, including application of law on all,” His Highness to request access to sites that in order to impose on him his sick desires. There shouldn’t These two incidents happened in one the Amir said in a speech after Cabinet Islam, better than day, that is, the issuance of a prison came under suspicion after the be a minister who yields to an MP to suspend a recreational us thousands of members took oath before him. deal’s signing. But in practice, activity for the public, as if he is an employee in his secre- sentence for a former superpower pres- His Highness the Amir told the new this allowed Iranian authorities to tariat, and not the incumbent of the highest executive au- times!!! ident, and the silence and negligence of ministers they have “great responsibilities delay and obstruct that access for thority in his institution. This was what led to the current Our money was a government that claims Arabism and in this important time, and I am confident weeks, months, or as Safavi said devastation that we are enduring ... due to the weakness of stolen from the Islam in front of a dangerous gathering you are, Allah’s willing, capable of con- of one of the newly-identified the executive authority.