SUBSCRIPTION SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2015 SHAABAN 27, 1436 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Kurdish leader Bang and bling Armed standoff Nadal lines up praises Kuwaiti for pop diva’s after shots fired for history on NA’s vital2 role anti-IS 7anthem at13 Dallas police Stuttgart18 grass Security forces raid farm, Min 32º Max 46º capture former MP Barrak High Tide 09:35 & 22:50 Al-Barrak to serve a 2-year jail sentence for ‘insult’ Low Tide 02:50 & 16:40 40 PAGES NO: 16551 150 FILS By Meshaal Al-Enezi US transfers six KUWAIT: A state security task force arrested former MP Musallam Al-Barrak in a Kabd area farm during a dinner Guantanamo invitation, security sources said. Al-Barrak will serve a two- year jail sentence for a speech deemed insulting to HH the inmates to Oman Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. Barrak’s defense lawyer said that the prison administration insisted on plac- WASHINGTON: Six Yemenis held for more than a ing Barrak in ward 2 (solitary confinement) - though he decade at the US military prison at Guantanamo asked to be placed in ward 1 as a state security prisoner. have been flown to Oman for resettlement, the Police also arrested ten people, including relatives of Pentagon said yesterday, the latest step in President Barrak, during the raid on charges of harboring a fugitive Barack Obama’s slow push to close the facility. The and insulting officers. The Interior Ministry had warned in a release came a week after Defense Secretary Ash statement Friday afternoon that harboring a fugitive is Carter said he was working with the White House punishable by a maximum of two years in jail and/or a fine on a proposal for Congress on shutting the interna- of KD2,000 according to Article 132 of Kuwait’s Penal Code. tionally condemned jail at the US naval base in A police team had raided an Abdali farm owned by Barrak’s Cuba, where most prisoners have been held with- brother earlier this month after receiving information that out charges or trial. the former lawmaker was there. Though Obama continues to face obstacles from Kuwait’s Cassation Court - the highest court in the coun- lawmakers to his long-time goal of emptying the try, upheld a two-year jail sentence against the former law- prison, the latest transfer, this year’s largest, whittles maker on May 18. The verdict is final and cannot be Guantanamo’s inmate population to 116, less than appealed. “This ruling is without the slightest doubt - very half the number when he took office in 2009. No political,” Barrak said following the verdict. “I thank God that further large transfers are imminent, said a senior I am not interested in wealth or power - I will always uphold US official, though efforts continue to repatriate my dignity both inside and outside the prison,” he added. prisoners or settle them elsewhere. The six men The sentencing is for a speech Barrak gave in October 2012 sent to Oman, a sultanate bordering Yemen at the which is deemed insulting to HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- tip of the Arabian peninsula, were identified as low- Ahmad Al-Sabah. Heated opposition to the dissolution of the elected February 2012 parliament; a change in the elec- risk detainees cleared years ago for transfer. IRBIL: Kuwait media delegation including Kuwait Times Editor-in-Chief Abd Al-Rahman Al-Alyan (right) Continued on Page 13 toral system and new elections that same year in pose for a group photo in Irbil, Iraq. — Photo by Hani Al-Shemmari ( See Page 2) December fueled the political opposition in Kuwait. LOCAL SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2015 IRBIL: The Kuwaiti media delegation meets Jaafar Eminki, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament of Iraq’s Kurdistan. Members of the Kuwaiti delegation are pictured with Minister of Municipalities and Tourism in Iraq’s Kurdistan — Photos by Hani Al-Shemmari and KUNA Nooruz Mawloud. Kurdish leader praises Kuwait NA’s vital role IRBIL: Jaafar Eminki, the Deputy Speaker of of the defunct Iraqi Baath regime. Kurdish-administered northern Iraq. Parliament of Iraq’s Kurdistan, lauded the Turning to the local legislative body, Kurdistan of Iraq is generally distin- vital legislative role of the Kuwaiti Eminki revealed a plan to draft “a special guished with moderate weather, sceneries Parliament, noting its dynamic role in the constitution for the Kurdistan region, to be of lush plains, valleys and mountains. The Gulf state’s political life, as compared to sim- later subjected to public referendum.” The area has been largely secure, with many ilar assemblies in the Middle East. Kurdish parliament includes 111 members, safety seekers from other parts of Iraq and Kuwait National Assembly is distin- representing various political parties, com- Syria settling in it. guished with greater vital and active role, as munities and sects, namely the Turkmen, The journalists have also met with compared to other parliaments in the the Christians and the Armenians. Nawzad Hadi, Irbil’s Governor, who dis- region, said the senior Kurdish legislator, closed that overall investment enterprises in praising the Kuwaiti peers for playing a piv- Tourism the region are estimated at $24 billion. otal role in running state affairs at the leg- The Kuwaiti media personalities, who However, he affirmed its need for greater islative level. had been preoccupied with a series of business, particularly by Arabs and Gulf citi- The Kurdistan Parliament aspires to meetings with local officials and fact-find- zens. establish mutual cooperation with the ing activities since their arrival in the region The Kuwaiti team includes Kuwait Kuwaiti National Assembly, through expert- on Tuesday, met with Minister of Times’ Editor-in-Chief Abd Al-Rahman Al- ise exchange and cementing ties, he told a Municipalities and Tourism Nooruz Alyan, Kuwait News Agency’s Deputy Kuwaiti media delegation which concluded Mawloud, who reiterated the call upon Director General for Editorial Affairs Saad their visit to the region late on Friday. The Kuwait to invest in the region, particularly in Al-Ali, Editor-in-Chief of Al-Anbaa Kurds are proud of the good ties with tourism, and revealed planned opening of Newspaper Youssef Al-Marzouq, and Kuwaiti people, he said, noting that both tourism promotional offices in many coun- Manager of Kuwait Journalists’ Association share bitter experience of suffering at hands tries to lure recreation seekers to the Adnan Al-Rashed. —KUNA A picture taken from inside a mall in Irbil. The Kuwaiti journalists in a group photo with Irbil’s Governor Nawzad Hadi. Members of the delegation are pictured during a trip at a local market. Surgeon uses new way of planting heart pacemakers KUWAIT: A female Kuwaiti heart surgeon successfully completed three heart surgeries involving the place- ment of heart pacemakers without the use of pacing wire, which is considered the first time this type of method is used in Kuwait. In a statement yesterday, the operating surgeon, Dr Fawzia Al-Kanderi, said Kuwait has been selected as one of the first countries to be given the opportunity to use this pacing wire-free approach to planting pacemakers in heart patients. In the past, pacing wires could at times affect adversely heart patients receiving pace- makers either by the wires not functioning as expected or causing unwarranted infections in the patient, she said. She noted that the three operations were done last Thursday as part of a workshop headed by her with a team of medical staff from Salman Al-Dabboos Medical Center with technical support from the US company manufacturing the pacemaker without pacing wires. She said she had gone to the US last May to train on conducting operations on planting the wires-free pace- makers. — KUNA KUWAIT: Dr Fawzia Al-Kanderi (center). — KUNA Allawi acclaims Kuwait’s Kurdish president humanitarian aid to Iraq arrives in Kuwait BAGHDAD: Iraq’s Vice President Ayad Allawi Allawi said in a press statement. He and Islamic depth in facing security chal- lauded yesterday Kuwait’s donation of $200 expressed gratitude for His Highness the lenges and maintaining stability. He also KUWAIT: President of Iraq’s Kurdistan Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al- million in humanitarian aid to Iraq. The dona- Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- underlined the need for reconciliation and Region Masoud Barzani arrived in Kuwait Hamad Al-Sabah and chief of the accom- tion comes in harmony with Kuwait’s Sabah and Kuwaiti government and people opening up to the region. Kuwait yesterday on a three-day official visit. He panying mission of honor, Advisor at respectable humanitarian and Arab national for this move. Allawi, who was Iraq’s inter- announced Friday donation of $200 million was received at the airport by First Amiri Diwan Mohammad Abdullah stances as well as its understanding of the im prime minister from June 1, 2004 to May to the UN efforts to alleviate the suffering Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Abulhasan. —KUNA suffering and needs of displaced Iraqis, 3, 2005, stressed importance of Iraq’s Arab of Iraqi people. — KUNA SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2015 LOCAL In Brief Shift hours E-crimes law Actress banned KUWAIT: MP Jamal Al-Omar rejected the e-crimes law KUWAIT: Kuwait TV will not broadcast any works, in its current form, adding that there are intentions to By A Saleh including TV programs, TV series, and films, of Syrian question its constitutionality. “If we actually want to actress Raghda, said Information Minister and State face drugs and terrorism, the law should be limited — KUWAIT: Ministry of Electricity and Water said that work- Minister for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al- in a way that agrees with the Budapest treaty,’ Omar ing hours will not change during the holy month of Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah.