SUBSCRIPTION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2017 JAMADA ALAWWAL 16, 1438 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Ghanem Germany elects IMF’s Lagarde ‘Disrespectful’ delivers ‘anti-Trump’ ‘optimistic’ anthem gaffe message from Steinmeier as about US leaves Germans Amir to3 Sisi new10 president economy21 fuming17 Interior Ministry assures no Min 13º crowds on border with Iraq Max 23º High Tide 00:01 & 13:40 Security crackdowns continuing across Kuwait Low Tide 07:23 & 19:16 40 PAGES NO: 17140 150 FILS KUWAIT: There is no abnormal gathering on the Kuwaiti-Iraqi border and trade movement is going on Ghazali Rd closure creates massive traffic snarl normally, a senior Kuwaiti security official said yester- day. “The security situation on the border is good and all concerned sectors are doing their duties efficiently,” Interior Ministry Undersecretary Lt Gen Suleiman Al- Fahd told reporters. Commenting on ongoing events in neighboring countries, Fahd said: “What is happening in some neighbor- ing countries are just domestic political conflicts with which Kuwait has nothing to do whatsoever.” Fahd made the remarks during a meeting with reporters and media figures at the Ministry of Interior. He called on mass media to spot- light the sacrifices and duties of security personnel and pro- mote their significant role in fighting crimes and safeguard- Suleiman Al-Fahd ing national security and public safety. He extolled the meeting as part of his ministry’s strategy to communicate with all mass media and to provide them reliable and accurate information in full transparency. “The current regional circumstances require accuracy, verification and patience ahead of reporting any news about the security situation (in the KUWAIT: Traffic congestion across Kuwait reached Road. Due to the construction, heavy trucks would radiating out from the port, affecting Shuwaikh, Rai country),” Fahd urged. epic levels yesterday, with some people waiting up not be allowed to pass along this stretch between 6 and eventually all the surrounding areas, where traffic Defending security measures, he said the interior to two hours in traffic due to construction works on am and 4 pm. was brought to a near standstill throughout the rush ministry is taking precautionary moves to “fortify” the Ghazali Road. The Traffic Department warned As a result, heavy trucks and other port traffic were hours of the day. Even parts of Kuwait City, all the ring internal front and maintain national security and public through local media that a detour would be opened forced to find alternative routes in and out of roads and traffic heading towards Salmiya, Farwaniya safety. Fahd emphasized that security crackdowns are along Ghazali Road at the intersection of Jahra Shuwaikh Industrial area. This led to heavy congestion and the airport were impacted. (See Page 4) being carried out nationwide in order to arrest potential lawbreakers. — KUNA MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2017 LOCAL Kuwait, UAE discuss activating extraditions KUWAIT: The Kuwaiti-UAE Consular Committee, at its second meeting held yesterday, discussed activating the treaty for convicts’ extradition between the two countries. Ambassador Ahmad Al-Dhahri, the UAE assistant undersecre- tary for consular affairs, said in a state- ment that the accord would be put into effect anew after adopting the meeting minutes today. The accord primarily stipulates that the convict “should be placed at a cor- rection facility,” however such a situation warrants his (or her) approval. Members Sami Al-Hamad, Kuwait’s assistant for- of the commission discussed during eign minister for consular affairs. today’s session “electronic and tempo- rary passports” and prospected coordi- at opening the commission’s second nation between the two sides in this session that such a gathering depicts regard. The common commission held depth of the historic and brotherly rela- its first meeting in November 2015, in tions between the two countries. the UAE. Sami Al-Hamad, Kuwait’s assis- The session was held in line with KUWAIT: Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah meets with IOM’s Director General William Lacy Swing. tant foreign minister for consular affairs, guidelines by First Deputy Prime indicated the mutual need to coordinate Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh at the consular level due to substantial Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah interaction at the investment, tourist and his UAE counterpart, Sheikh Amir meets with IOM chief and educational levels. Abdullah Bin Zayed, for mutual coordi- Yesterday’s talks focused on furnish- nation in various sectors. For his part ing Kuwaiti and UAE citizens with all Ambassador Al-Dhahri affirmed the KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah possible facilities, he added. The com- mutual desire to cement cooperation in the consular field. The meeting was Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received yester- mittee held a meeting to examine bilat- attended by representatives of Kuwaiti day at Bayan Palace First Deputy Prime eral relations and discuss prospects of achieving sustainable strategic partner- ministries of interior, finance and justice Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah ship between the two GCC countries. as well as UAE Ambassador Rahma Al- Khaled Al-Sabah, accompanied by the Ambassador Hamad said in a statement Zuabi. — KUNA International Organization for Migration (IOM) Director General Ambassador William Lacy Swing. The meeting was attended by Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali WGS draws link between Jarrah Al-Sabah. Swing had expressed gratitude to the State happiness, govt performance: of Kuwait in the realm of global humanitarian activities. During a meeting with Acting Kuwaiti official Speaker of the National Assembly Essa Al- Kandari, Swing expressed admiration for the State of Kuwait, namely His Highness the Amir, DUBAI: The World Government Summit nations are now espousing this stan- for the efforts that resulted in placing the Gulf (WGS) has established a correlation dard,” Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah State diplomacy high on the international are- between happiness and government pointed out. na. The two sides discussed Kuwait’s efforts for performance, Kuwait’s Minister of State The new Minister of Information safeguarding the expatriate workers’ rights and for Cabinet Affairs and Minister of added that Kuwait will begin to rely on implementing relevant international criteria. Information Sheikh Mohammad the level of satisfaction to gauge govern- The talks also dealt with mutual cooperation Abdullah Al-Mubarak said yesterday. ment performance and the progress of regarding the foreign laborers and immigration. Speaking on the sidelines of a summit development projects. On the WGS, he Earlier yesterday, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled that tackles potential challenges the noted that it features compelling discus- and Swing held discussions centered on IOM’s future may bring, the Kuwaiti minister sions that bring together a bevy of spe- humanitarian endeavors that aim to help out noted that the level of happiness is an cialists from all across the globe to those victimized by conflict, particularly, in the integral factor to measure government “examine methods to overcome future Middle East. According to a statement issued performance. hurdles.” by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Moreover, he spoke of aligning Gulf Meanwhile, Kuwait’s Consul General in Sabah Al-Khaled underscored the need for KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with IOM’s Cooperation Council (GCC) views on the Dubai and the Northern Emirates Theyab closer ties with the IOM, given the organiza- Director General Ambassador William Lacy Swing. —KUNA photos tion’s benevolent aspirations. need to ensure that government services Al-Rashidi said that Kuwait’s participa- Meanwhile, the IOM Director General Minister for the Affairs of the First Deputy Al-Omar and Assistant Deputy Foreign are provided on a bedrock of gratifica- tion in this summit allows it the chance applauded Kuwait’s firm commitment to Prime Minister and Foreign Minister’s Office Minister for the Affairs of International tion, a model that has proven to be high- to interact with development experts. humanitarian causes all across the globe. The Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al- Organizations Ambassador Nasser Al-Heyn, ly successful in the UAE. “This method of The WGS is an annual meeting held in meeting was attended by Deputy Foreign Sabah, Assistant Foreign Minister for the along with a number of senior Foreign governance has largely been obscure in Dubai dedicated to shaping the future of Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah, Assistant Foreign Affairs of the Foreign Minister’s Office Ayham Ministry officials. — KUNA the past, but a growing number of government worldwide. —KUNA HSE conference starts Wed KUWAIT: Minister of Oil and Minister of Electricity and Water, Essam Al- Marzouq will be opening the second annual edi- tion of the ‘Kuwait International Health, Safety and Environment Conference and Exhibition’ (KIHSE) on Wednesday. In a press statement on Saturday, the conference organizing committee pointed out that this year’s conference, which is co-organized by Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) and Britain’s Global Events, will be attended by a number of experts in the fields of health, safety and environ- ment (HSE). The conference aims to raise HSE awareness of the personnel in the oil field, in addition to high- lighting that the petroleum companies, which are KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with Acting under KPC umbrella, are complying with highest with Oman’s Ambassador to Kuwait Hamid bin Saeed Al-Ibrahim. —KUNA photos National Assembly Speaker Essa Ahmad Al-Kandari. HSE standards, the statement added. The statement noted that Oman’s Oil Minister Mohammad Al-Rumhi would attend the two-day Amir receives letter from Oman’s Sultan Qaboos conference, where participants would share expert- ise to help formulate strategies aimed at addressing challenges facing oil companies.