SUBSCRIPTION SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014 JAMADA ALAWWAL 22, 1435 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Godrej: Take Chelsea hit Kuwait-India Arsenal for six relations in Wenger’s beyond trade 1,000th game 25 20 INSIDE Egypt FM sees ‘peaceful Max 27º Min 16º change’ in Arab world High Tide 04:30 & 21:33 Low Tide Fahmy meets Kuwaiti media delegation 04:46 & 16:05 40 PAGES NO: 16113 150 FILS CAIRO: (From left) KUNA’s Egypt Bureau Chief Mona Sheshter, Mohammed Al-Bahar, Kuwait Journalists Association Treasurer Adnan Al-Rashed, Al-Nahar Editor-in-Chief Emad Bukhamseen, Al-Anbaa Editor-in-Chief Yousef Al-Marzouq, Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy, KUNA Editor-in-Chief Saad Al-Ali, Deputy Head of the Kuwaiti mission to Egypt Mohammad Al-Mohammad, Editor-in-Chief of Al-Kuwaitia Madhi Khamees, Kuwait Times Editor-in-Chief Abd Al-Rahman Al-Alyan and Al-Rai Editor-in-Chief Majed Al-Ali pose for a group photo. — Photo by Majed Al-Sabej By Abd Al-Rahman Al-Alyan mine political structures if relations are smooth between he said would dominate the Arab summit in Kuwait this ment of the Arab League and the Court of Human Kuwait Times Editor-in-Chief the people and their rulers. But he said some parties - week. He said Kuwait’s acceptance to bear this responsi- Rights, he said. whom he did not name - are inciting “sectarian sedition” bility by hosting the March 25-26 summit “reflects its Fahmy cautioned the gathering may not bring imme- CAIRO: Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy told a vis- among Arab countries that are undergoing transforma- national and Arab belongings”. Among the major issues diate results. “It is impossible to address all challenges iting Kuwaiti media delegation that change brought tion. to be discussed by the Arab leaders would be the Arab and solve differences in two days,” he warned, “but it is about by the Arab Spring will affect all Arab countries Fahmy said the Arab world is facing huge challenges identity, terrorism, honoring aspirations of people, the important that the summit reaches a sound assessment “without exception”, but will be peaceful and not under- and going through a “critical and sensitive” phase, which Palestinian-Israeli talks, the Syrian conflict, the develop- Continued on Page 3 KUWAIT: Minister of Finance Anas Al-Saleh (right) and Arab League Secretary General Nabil Elaraby attend the opening session of the Economic and Social Council of the Arab League ministers yesterday. — AP (See Page 2) Arab finance ministers meet KUWAIT: Finance Minister Anas Al-Saleh said yesterday that the draft resolutions issued by the Arab League’s Economic and Social Council at the level of finance min- isters praised the progress in the implementation of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s initiative to provide financial resources to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Saleh told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) following the meeting that the Arab countries’ pledges to the initiative have so far amounted to $1.308 billion out of the $2 billion capital. The finance ministers also approved draft resolutions regarding the preparations for next year’s Arab eco- nomic summit, establishing the Arab Banking Commission and the Grand Arab Investment Zone. The Kuwaiti minister added that the Arab League Economic and Social Council also approved draft resolutions reflecting consensus among Arab countries and keen- ness to bring about success of this week’s summit. Saleh added that the Economic and Social Council urged the Arab states and the Arab Transport Council to exert more efforts to work on removing obstacles that hamper execution of the Arab railroad linkage net- works. Continued on Page 13 LOCAL SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014 KUWAIT: Foreign officials sit around the tables for the opening session of the Economic and Social Council of the Arab League nistersMi in Kuwait City yesterday, ahead of the 25th Arab summit in Kuwait on March 25 and 26. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat Arab officials call for boosting economic, social development Praise for Amir’s initiative KUWAIT: Saudi Finance Minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf Abdullah Beshara called on the importance of hav- “There is a complete consensus on all draft res- underlined importance of the the Arab League ing strategies, economic and trade agreements in olutions which reflects the good relations among Economic and Social Council’s draft resolutions, order to achieve Arab economic integration. the Arab countries,” permanent representative to particularly those related to electricity linkage “The Arab countries have a genuine opportuni- the Arab League Aziz Al-Daihani told reporters fol- project, water and food security. Al-Assaf, after the ty that should be seized in order to have strategies, lowing the conclusion of the council meeting, held council meeting, praised His Highness the Amir and economic and trade agreements in order to at the Finance Ministers’ level. Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s initia- strengthen the Arab economy and trade,” Beshara He said the recommendations of the meeting tive to launch a $2 billion fund to support small said in a seminar about “Personal Experience,” part would be referred to the Foreign Ministers who and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). of activities of the 25th Arab summit, due in will meet tomorrow. Egyptian Minister of He underlined that Kuwait and Saudi Arabia Kuwait on March 25-26. Commerce, Industry and Investment Munir honored their pledges to the fund, which was He called on the Arab League to “stop wasting Abdulnour said the ministers discussed renewable launched in the Arab Economic, Social and time on military and security strategies and to energy resources. He told reporters the Arab world Development summit in Kuwait in 2009. work instead on formulating ways of economic was rich of solar and wind energies. Al-Assaf also pointed out the Saudi King and trade cooperation, in order to promote eco- The Finance Ministers approved a resolution Abdullah’s initiative to support Arab financial insti- nomic development as opposed to lack of that called for following up the implementation of tutes to increase their capital by not less than 50 progress and agreement at the military and securi- resolutions of the 2013 Arab Economic, percent. ty fronts.” Development and Social summit that was held in He said the Finance Ministers in the council Beshara meanwhile hoped the Arab summit Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. welcomed King Abdullah’s initiative to provide would succeed in achieving conciliation among The resolution praised the progress in the USD 200 million for the Palestinian cities. Lebanese the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) countries. implementation of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Minister of Economy and Trade Alain Hakim said He attributed the slow progress of the GCC Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s initiative to there was an overall agreement among the Arab march to the lack of public opinion that might act provide financial resources to small and medium- countries regarding renewable energies. as a pressuring tool. The GCC, he added, “needs sized enterprises (SMEs). It noted that the Arab Hakim said the finance ministers agreed to friends to defend it and taking into consideration Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman from 1971 until his appointment as Secretary countries’ pledget to the initiative have so far establish an Arab Investment Zone. Secretary that the GCC is a system built on consensus.” - believes in consensus among its members, he General of the GCC 10 years later. amounted to $1.308 billion out of the $2 billion General of the Supreme Council for Planning of He said he was selected as the first Secretary noted. capital. The finance ministers also approved draft Oman, Sultan Al-Habsi said the finance ministers General of the GCC, which was established on May Beshara said the GCC was launched at the start Complete consensus resolutions regarding the preparations for next focused on boosting the common Arab action 25 1981. His termed expired in 1993. The GCC, of Iran-Iraq war, sought to maintain balance of The Arab League Economic and Social Council year’s Arab economic summit, establishing the specially in the economic and social spheres. added Beshara, benefitted from the Arab League’s powers in the region, preserving the safety and approved yesterday draft resolutions to the Arab Arab Banking Commission, the Grand Arab experience to achieving its objectives in different sovereignty of its member countries, emphasizing summit, reflecting consensus among Arab coun- Investment Zone, renewable energy and estab- New strategies domains. on moderation the Gulf identity. tries and keenness to bring about success of next lishing a mechanism to coordinate humanitarian Meanwhile, GCC former Secretary General The GCC countries - Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Beshara was Kuwait’s Ambassador to the UN week’s summit, a Kuwaiti diplomat said. aid. — KUNA KUWAIT: The Tunisian ambassador to Kuwait Nourddine Erray held on Thursday a reception on the occasion of the National Day of his country at Crowne Plaza Hotel. It was attended by a number of dinitaries and other diplomats. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat CBK announces Sheikha Fariha voices cultural campaign satisfaction at mother’s award KUWAIT: The Commercial Bank of Kuwait announced its third annual cul- KUWAIT: President of the Kuwait Association for the Ideal dination with foundations that care for cases of special tural campaign that reflects commitment to revive Kuwait’s heritage Family Sheikha Fariha Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah said “the needs. through innovative projects that underline the traditional Kuwaiti values ideal mother award” has yielded tangible results in terms of “Voluntary work, undoubtedly, boosts states’ progress and their timeless importance. promoting family awareness and violence renunciation.