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JAMADA ALAWWAL 5, 1439 AH MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2018 Max 20º 32 Pages Min 06º 150 Fils Established 1961 ISSUE NO: 17437 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net Amir meets Qatari Heavy casualties after Saudis urge oil producers Qatari Emir discusses youth, 3 defense minister 6 battle at Kabul hotel 17 to extend cooperation 16 sports with Kuwaiti minister Iraqi official hails Kuwait’s hosting of donor conference Hakim praises Amir’s efforts during meeting with media delegation BAGHDAD: Leader of the National Wisdom Movement Ammar Al-Hakim said the international donor conference to rebuild Iraq to be hosted by Kuwait in February adds to Kuwait’s brilliant image and will further bolster bilateral ties between Kuwait and Iraq. He said during a meeting with a Kuwaiti media delegation visiting the capital Baghdad late Saturday that HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sabah has always been supporting Iraq to overcome various crises. He also mentioned Kuwait’s role in liber- ating his country from Saddam Hussein’s regime by opening its land and airspace to allow the movement of armed forces. SEE PAGE 2 On the other hand, Hakim said that the upcoming Iraqi parliamentary elections will create stability and boost democracy in the country. This year’s elections are similar to those of 2005, when Iraq moved from dictatorship to democracy, he said during the meeting BAGHDAD: Leader of the National Wisdom Movement Ammar Al-Hakim poses with the Kuwaiti media delegation late Saturday. Editor-in-Chief of with the Kuwaiti media delegation. Kuwait Times Abd Al-Rahman Al-Alyan is seen fourth from right. — KUNA Iraq has witnessed many prominent achievements recently, including defeating the so-called Islamic State Iraq is currently producing up to five million bar- postponing the elections set for May 12, Hakim said he Secretary General of Kuwait Journalists Association (IS) that occupied 40 percent of Iraqi land, overcoming rels per day, while the country will benefit from the doesn’t believe there is any reason to delay the Adnan Al-Rashed, Editor-in-Chief of Kuwait Times religious extremism which was destroying stability and production of natural gas by 100 percent end of 2018. process. On Thursday, the Iraqi parliament failed to Abd Al-Rahman Al-Alyan and senior officials from security and reaching a level of political unity, Hakim Meanwhile, he noted that the wisdom party pays vote on the set date for the elections due to the the information ministry and Kuwaiti newspapers. noted. He added that the government aims to build a attention to fully represent women and youth, espe- absence of some MPs. The parliament will hold anoth- The international donor conference to rebuild Iraq country able to provide citizens with complete services cially college graduates as these two categories form er vote today to approve the date of May’s elections. will be held from Feb 12 to 14, chaired by the as well as job opportunities and residence, while devel- the majority of Iraqi society. The Kuwaiti delegation includes Editor-in-Chief European Union, Iraq, Kuwait, the UN and the World oping its infrastructure and fighting corruption. Responding to a question on the possibility of of Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) Saad Al-Ali, Bank. — KUNA Kuwait Renato Pedro Villa, Deputy In my view Kuwait summons Filipino Foreign Minister Khaled Sulaiman Al- Jarallah announced. The Filipino envoy Our apologies envoy; private hiring met at the ministry with the assistant for- Kuwait Times would like to officially Feeling Filipino eign minister for consular affairs, who apologize for the photo that appeared notified the ambassador about Kuwait’s alongside the article published yesterday of MoH nurses banned regret and bewilderment towards his regarding Manila’s ban on Filipino work- president’s decision to suspend the dis- By B Izzak and Agencies recruiting nurses from abroad to work for ers coming to Kuwait. The photo was By Nejoud Al-Yagout patch of workers to Kuwait. Such a stance chosen by an editor, not reporter Ben the ministry, giving the job to a ministerial contradicts the nature of the distinctive KUWAIT: The issue of maids and expa- committee. Meanwhile, lawmakers yester- Garcia who is currently on leave and did ties between the two countries and does not see the front page before it was pub- triate labor dominated developments yes- day said they will demand forming a com- not serve their common interests. terday as the foreign ministry summoned mittee to investigate why the maid crisis lished. It was a poor choice and we Jarallah added that the Kuwaiti side deeply regret any offense caused. Kuwait the Philippines ambassador over a ban on continues despite setting up a special noted to the ambassador that freedoms [email protected] Filipino workers, while the foreign minister company for the recruitment of domestic Times is a longtime supporter of Filipinos and rights enjoyed by the expatriate com- and Filipino issues in Kuwait and would said discussions are ongoing with several helpers. munities in the country have contributed countries to recruit maids. The health min- The foreign ministry summoned yes- never wish to offend this valuable and esterday, I was told by a fellow Kuwaiti that the to raising the number of Filipino workers hardworking community here. president of the Philippines has issued a ban on ister also stopped private companies from terday Ambassador of Philippines to Continued on Page 11 YFilipino workers traveling to Kuwait. I sensed a tone of surprise (and an underlying tone of dismay) by the one conveying the news to me, but I was very United States - which has supported the happy. My first thought was: Finally! This is not an Turkish tanks YPG in the fight against Islamic State (IS) unpatriotic sentiment. Nor should it be considered a militants - and also needs at least the tacit patriotic one, for that matter. This is a humanitarian support of Russia to succeed. issue and should be viewed objectively. Our loyalty in roll into Syria In its first reaction to the offensive, the such cases should be towards humanity. It has US State Department urged Turkey “to absolutely no connection to borders. And a degree of exercise restraint and ensure that its mili- authenticity and responsibility is required when it to fight militia comes to the development of one’s nation. tary operations remain limited in scope HASSA, Turkey: Turkish troops and and duration and scrupulous to avoid civil- We all know that if Kuwaitis were treated badly by tanks entered Syria yesterday to push an others abroad, our government would take care of us ian casualties”. “We call on all parties to offensive against Kurdish militia as France remain focused on the central goal of too. We need to take off our perception glasses and warned over the risks of the operation start wearing those of others. This has nothing to do defeating” IS, State Department spokes- and rockets hit border towns in apparent woman Heather Nauert said in a statement. with the Philippines breaking ties with Kuwait. This is retaliation. Turkey on Saturday launched a protective ban and does not apply to all Filipino US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis operation “Olive Branch” seeking to oust workers, but mainly domestic helpers due to incidents said yesterday during a flight to Asia of abuse that resulted in deaths. As mentioned in yes- from the Afrin region of northern Syria that Turkey advised the US ahead of terday’s article in Kuwait Times by Ben Garcia, the Peoples’ Protection Units (YPG) its air strikes in Syria, and Washington Ambassador of the Philippines to Kuwait Renato Villa which Ankara considers a terror group. is in contact with Ankara about the had already sent a letter to the interior ministry, but But the campaign risks further increasing way forward. HASSA, Turkey: Turkish army tanks and soldiers gather close to the Syrian didn’t receive a response. We cannot afford to ignore tensions with Turkey’s NATO ally the Continued on Page 11 border yesterday in Hatay province. — AFP such appeals made to us by our guests. It seems that our first reaction is one of surprise or denial. If one person states that there is a problem Abdullah, a key US ally, said he had with the treatment of domestic helpers, it could be a Jordan king tells “continuously voiced over the past lie. If two people state an issue, there is still room for year... my concerns regarding the US debate. But three or more people? Yes, Houston, we decision on Jerusalem that does not have a problem. And this problem needs to be Pence of concern come as a result of a comprehensive addressed, sooner rather than later. If it will take eons settlement to the Palestinian Israeli to change hearts and minds, it will take no time at all over Jerusalem conflict”. “Jerusalem is key to Muslims to begin an investigation. and Christians as it is to Jews,” he Nobody is insulting us. In fact, I am amazed at added. “It is key to peace in the region. how long it took for this ban to be in place. Our AMMAN: Jordan’s King Abdullah II And key to enabling Muslims to effec- Filipino brothers and sisters have been extremely yesterday voiced concern over patient in implementing this ban. Decades of Washington’s controversial recognition tively fight some of the root causes of patience on their part is highly commendable. And, of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, as US radicalization.” still, according to the embassy here, the order is not Vice President Mike Pence visited Israel occupied the West Bank in yet official.