SUBSCRIPTION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2014 MUHARRAM 24, 1436 AH www.kuwaittimes.net MoI marks Putin yawns Erdogan Charisma king International off Western says Muslims Ashour targets Day of baiting at discovered third squash Tolerance testy G20 Americas world title 4Leaders7 meet13 in Riyadh20 Min 11º Max 29º as Gulf dispute simmers High Tide 06:46 & 20:33 Speaker optimistic over Amir’s efforts to heal rift Low Tide 01:31 & 13:38 40 PAGES NO: 16345 150 FILS RIYADH/KUWAIT: Leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) held a previously unannounced meeting in Govt urges Saudi Arabia late yesterday, at a time when the six-mem- ber group of Arab monarchies is trying to end a damag- ing internal rift. National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al- OPEC action Ghanem meanwhile expressed optimism about the suc- cess of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- to prop oil Sabah’s efforts to iron out differences among Gulf coun- tries. KUWAIT: Kuwait warned yesterday that action was At a press conference at the National Assembly, needed from OPEC members to halt the “sharp Ghanem said he looks positively to the Gulf leaders’ decline” in oil prices after the value of global crude meeting in Riyadh yesterday, and hoped the Amir’s hit a four-year low. An extraordinary joint meeting efforts would help overcome any impediment facing the by the Cabinet and its GCC. “We hope the Riyadh meeting will have a happy Supreme Petroleum Council - end that consolidates the GCC march,” he said. On the the highest decision-making GCC joint security agreement, the top lawmaker stated body on energy - chaired by that the legislative and legal affairs committee is thor- Prime Minister HH Sheikh oughly studying the constitutionality of its items. If any Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, provision does not conform to Kuwait’s constitution, it reviewed “necessary steps that should be amended or the agreement would be rejected, need to be taken” to halt the he said. price slide, said a statement cit- “Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah... arrived in Riyadh ed by the official KUNA news this evening,” the official Saudi Press Agency said, adding Sheikh Jaber agency. that Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani had The measures included also reached the Saudi capital. The United Arab Emirates’ “consultations with OPEC members to discuss tak- Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al- ing the best means to support oil prices and safe- Maktoum also arrived in Riyadh, as did King Hamad of guard the interests of all sides”. The statement did Bahrain, SPA said. The leaders, who travelled with their not call for any change in OPEC production, which foreign ministers and other cabinet members or senior is currently 600,000 barrels a day above its recom- officials, were greeted by Crown Prince Muqrin bin mended output ceiling of 30 million. Abdulaziz Al-Saud and GCC Secretary General Abdullatif Continued on Page 13 RIYADH: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah greets Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud Al-Zayani, according to SPA. during a meeting of Gulf leaders yesterday in the Saudi capital. — KUNA Continued on Page 13 Ghanem: Decisions won’t hit low, middle-income people Health insurance for visitors in works By B Izzak ples’ pockets”. generous proposals to increase The Assembly’s legal and legisla- salaries and benefits for citizens. KUWAIT: The sharp drop in oil prices tive committee meanwhile rejected Ghanem told reporters that the and revenues strongly impacted the a proposal calling to increase the joint meeting on oil prices will be work of the National Assembly yes- pensions and end of service indem- held at the National Assembly office terday with Speaker Marzouq Al- nity of Kuwaitis who retire because but said no date has been set for the Ghanem announcing that a special of health reasons. Rapporteur of the meeting. The speaker said that deci- meeting will be held between MPs committee MP Abdulhameed Dashti sions and legislations that will be and ministers to study the situation, said the rejection was taken because passed by the Assembly on the issue insisting that any decisions will not “of its wrong timing as it comes at a will not target low and middle- affect low and middle-income peo- time when oil prices are sliding and income citizens but will certainly ple. MP Faisal Al-Kandari said he it will add new burdens on the state impact the rich. The average price of plans to submit a request for the coffers”. This is the first time that an Kuwaiti oil dropped from $104 a bar- Assembly to hold a special session Assembly panel clearly said it has rel in the April-August period to on how to diversify the national rejected a proposal calling for finan- $71.40 a barrel on Friday. It has economy while strongly criticizing cial benefits for citizens because of already dived below the budget government plans to compensate its financial burden on the budget. price of $75 a barrel. the drop in income from the “peo- Normally, MPs used to race to make Continued on Page 13 Qatar to change ‘kafala’ law DOHA: Qatar, host of the 2022 football World Cup, pledged yesterday to introduce new legislation to replace the controversial “kafala” sponsorship system and improve IS beheads US conditions for migrant workers by early 2015. The current law, which limits the rights of movement for foreign work- ers, would make way for legislation that was “currently aid worker under review,” said the labour and social affairs ministry. “We expect to make announcements about new legisla- BEIRUT: The Islamic State group yesterday tion by early next year,” it said in a statement. released a video claiming the beheading of US aid Qatar’s treatment of its massive foreign workforce has worker Peter Kassig in a warning to Washington as come under the international spotlight as it steps up con- it prepares to send more troops to Iraq. The video struction of facilities for the world football showcase in also showed the gruesome simultaneous behead- 2022. Human rights groups and FIFPro, the global union ings of at least 18 men described as Syrian military representing footballers, have urged Qatar to abolish the personnel, the latest in a series of mass executions and other atrocities carried out by IS in Syria and kafala system, which enables employers to prevent foreign Iraq. Washington said it workers from leaving the country or changing jobs and was working to confirm has been likened to modern-day slavery. The oil-rich emi- the authenticity of the rate said in May that it would replace the sponsorship sys- video, which sparked tem with one based on employment contracts. widespread condemna- Under the new legislation, the exit permit that foreign tion. workers need to leave the country is to be replaced by a “If confirmed, we are system that grants them permission automatically after a appalled by the brutal three-day grace period. Foreign workers would also be murder of an innocent able to change jobs at the end of their contracts, without American aid worker and the need for the certificate they currently require from Peter Kassig we express our deepest their previous employers showing they have no objec- condolences to his family tions. Those on open-ended contracts would be entitled to and friends,” National Security Council spokes- change jobs after five years. And employers who confis- woman Bernadette Mehan said. White House press cate the passports of their workers would face tougher secretary Josh Earnest said President Barack penalties. Obama had been briefed about the reports of “We intend to effect meaningful and lasting change for Kassig’s murder. the benefit of all those who live and work in Qatar,” the In the undated video, a man who appears to be labour ministry said yesterday. It said that Qatar was work- the same British-accented jihadist who beheaded ing with governments in home countries of migrant work- previous Western hostages stands above a severed ers to clamp down on “unethical or illegal behaviour” of head. “This is Peter Edward Kassig, a US citizen,” the recruitment agencies. Workers complain of finding wages black-clad masked executioner says, urging US lower than promised, while many arrive with a huge Continued on Page 13 Continued on Page 13 LOCAL MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2014 KUWAIT: HH the Amir with members of Al-Roumi family. — KUNA HH Sheikh Sabah with Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim and members of the Parliament’s Bureau. Al-Roumi family thanks the Amir for member’s release Sheikh Sabah receives senior officials KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah wife. The couple were shot June 6, 1997 on himself has accepted the pardon. the third session of the 14th legislative term. day, in addition to members of Al-Roumi fami- Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received yester- their way back from chalet. They included Parliament Deputy Speaker ly who came to express gratitude for the Amiri day at Seif Palace several members of Al- Al-Nibari, 59, was shot in the jaw and Amir meets with high officials Mubarak Al-Khurainej, Secretary Adel Al- amnesty. His Highness also received HH Roumi family, who came to thank him for the shoulder by an automatic weapon, and his HH Sheikh Sabah also received HH the Kharafi, Supervisor Ahmad Lari, Chairman of Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak, Sheikh Sabah Al- Amiri amnesty issued for the family member wife, Siryan Al-Freih, suffered one bullet Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al- the Legal and Legislative Affairs Committee Khaled, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Ahmad Al-Shamlan Al-Roumi.