SHAABAN 17, 1439 AH THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018 Max 35º 32 Pages Min 26º 150 Fils Established 1961 ISSUE NO: 17522 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net Qatari leader receives IMF warns Arab states West sparks new outrage Liverpool join Real Madrid 3 letter from HH the Amir 11 against debt complacency 30 in calling slavery ‘choice’ 16 in Champions League final Amir lauds democratic exchange between parliament and Cabinet Voting on no-confidence motions next week • Oil minister denies resignation By B Izzak and Agencies two ministers, while they fell short of filing a non-coop- was not the first time that two ministers and the prime conspiracy theories eration motion against the prime minister. National minister were grilled on the same day. About a decade KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem said voting on ago, former prime minister HH Sheikh Nasser Al- Al-Sabah lauded yesterday the healthy democratic the two no-confidence motions against Oil Minister Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and three other minis- Our wasted potential exchange between National Assembly MPs and Cabinet Bakheet Al-Rasheedi and Social Affairs and Labor ters were grilled in the same session, which also lasted members. In his letter to HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Minister Hind Al-Sabeeh will take place next Thursday. for almost 24 hours. Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, the Amir congrat- Lawmakers need 25 votes to automatically oust the MP Ali Al-Deqbasi said yesterday he was confident ulated the head of the Cabinet on his outstanding per- two ministers, but Ghanem expressed belief that the two that the oil minister will survive the no-confidence formance during his interpellation session. HH the Amir ministers will survive and remain as Cabinet members. He motion and continue in his post, adding that the grilling also commended lawmakers on displaying high democrat- also said that a proposal to form a committee to investi- against him was unconstitutional because he was held By Badrya Darwish ic values during their interpellations of the prime minister gate the allegations in the oil minister’s grilling will be responsible for the actions of his predecessors in the and two other ministers. Sheikh Sabah hoped for more put for voting in the same session. Ghanem said the ministry, which is not in line with the constitution. He said progress in Kuwait’s democratic experience, wishing wel- grilling of HH Sheikh Jaber by MP Hamdan Al-Azemi that the grilling had in fact targeted senior oil executives fare and stability for the country and its people. ended without any non-cooperation motion, and there- and the minister paid the price of infighting in the oil HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al- fore the grilling is over. Parliamentary sources said the sector. Deqbasi said that the vote against Rasheedi will [email protected] Jaber Al-Sabah sent a cable yesterday to Sheikh Jaber, non-cooperation motion against the premier was signed not succeed as he was grilled for violations committed also praising his performance in response to the interpel- by eight lawmakers, short of just two members to by previous ministers. lation. Sheikh Nawaf said the process was done in a fair become legal. Parliamentary sources said that from the outcome of ajid Javid was appointed home secretary a few democratic atmosphere, displaying a responsible The oil minister meanwhile denied reports that he has the grillings, it appears that the government will manage days ago in the UK. Javid is the child of immi- exchange between the Cabinet and parliament. decided to quit his post after the no-confidence motion to defeat the two no-confidence votes against the two Sgrants from Pakistan who landed in Britain in After a marathon grilling session that lasted almost 24 against him. He told reporters he is staying in his post ministers, and that the dissolution of the Assembly now 1960 - of course a Muslim family. His father worked hours, MPs submitted no-confidence motions against the and said he is proud of the Amiri confidence in him. It appears a remote possibility. as a bus driver in Bristol and the family lived in a modest two-bedroom flat for most of his youth. But despite his humble beginnings, British Prime Minister sovereign credit for 2018 at “AA” with a stable outlook, Teresa May chose him to serve as home secretary Kuwait continues the agency said yesterday. (See Page 5) (sort of like the interior minister in the Arab world) - In his opening speech at the conference organized not a small position. Of course, Javid is a highly-qual- by the Central Bank of Kuwait and the Islamic Financial ified young man. He served as an investment banker role as Islamic Services Board, Hajraf stressed that Kuwait is keen to and held several high positions in the government, find the necessary infrastructure for the functioning of including as a parliamentary and cabinet minister. finance pioneer; the banking system, both conventional and Islamic. I was laughing when I heard about his appoint- “This is represented by a stable financial and monetary ment, and I thought how people in the Arab states system and a regulatory environment that adopts poli- would be able rise to such a high position if their par- Fitch affirms AA cies that support growth and stability. ents had been immigrants who arrived even as far By Faten Omar Regarding the importance of this role, the govern- back as 100 years previously. Everyone will be ment is sparing no effort to enhance the independence mocking, saying: What’s this wafed holding this posi- of the Central Bank of Kuwait in the management of tion? Are there no original nationals worthy of this KUWAIT: Finance Minister Nayef Al-Hajraf yesterday said the CBK-IFSB conference was an opportunity to monetary policy, the performance of its oversight role position? Does it have to be given to a newcomer and all its functions stipulated in the law of its estab- Mohammed Al-Hashel Nayef Al-Hajraf whose father was a bus driver? meet Islamic finance industry experts, who contribute to the development of the industry by proposing solu- lishment,” Hajraf said. He added that the conference I didn’t see one article in the British press or one coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establish- WhatsApp or one social media message on tions and recommendations. He pointed out that Kuwait exceptional rate to reach $2.2 trillion. is a leader in launching and developing the Islamic ment of the Central Bank of Kuwait. He affirmed that Kuwait has achieved within a Instagram or Snapchat or Facebook, etc, etc mocking Governor of the Central Bank of Kuwait Mohammed or criticizing Ms May for her choice. This is pure finance industry regionally and globally, adding that decade a financial system among the strongest, most these efforts are not limited to moral or legislative sup- Al-Hashel said many countries have followed the model secure and stable in the region and a dual banking sys- democracy, guys. And this is how countries advance set by Kuwait’s successful experience in Islamic on all levels. First you have to advance in your men- port, but rather due to the keenness of Kuwait to build tem that stimulates the flourishing of Islamic and con- government institutions on which the modern economy finance, adding that Islamic finance has grown at the ventional banks alike. tality, in your head, in your culture, in your education international level over the past four decades at an and in your behavior. Then you have to respect and is based. Meanwhile, Fitch Ratings affirmed Kuwait’s Continued on Page 11 honor merit over wasta or connections. This is why the Arab world continues to stagnate and we are still importing from A to Z from outside. move, Cayetano said, “is acceptable and There isn’t a country among us which has developed Filipino envoy is a duty under international law but it significant new technologies, let alone old ones like caused commotion to them”. “That’s why cars. Even the needles we sew our clothes with are I said I apologize if our actions seemed made outside, be it China, Turkey or the US. Forget returns home to violate your sovereignty but let me airplanes, cars, industries, medical equipment, medi- MANILA: The Filipino ambassador assure you it’s in the spirit of protecting cines, manufacturing, etc. I’m not talking about things expelled by Kuwait, which protested the our nationals,” Cayetano told reporters we’ve licensed and replicate like simple mathematics. rescue of abused Filipina housemaids in at the airport. I’m talking about what we innovate or rather don’t the country as an affront to its sover- Kuwait’s foreign ministry accused the innovate. eignty, returned home yesterday, with Philippine Embassy last week of a “fla- You see guys what’s the reason. Sit nicely in your the Philippines insisting it did not com- grant and grave breach of rules and reg- home and think wisely and think without racism or mit any infraction. Philippine Foreign ulations that govern diplomatic action without grudges and ask yourself: Am I lying? Am I Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano wel- where staff helped Filipina house helpers exaggerating? Or being unrealistic? Or just want to comed Ambassador Renato Villa at run away,” and ordered Villa to leave criticize? It is sad, I tell you, the situation we in the Manila’s international airport. Both within a week. Kuwait also recalled its Arab world are in.