N IO T IP R C S B U S THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014 RABI ALTHANI 20, 1435 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Gulf, Russia Twin suicide Prince Charles Kroos missile disagree bombings sways sword destroys on Syrian target Iran during Saudi Arsenal conflict2 centre 7in Beirut Ardah13 dance 20 KAC seals deal to Max 24º Min 09º High Tide 02:42 & 14:58 buy 25 Airbus jets Low Tide 09:05 & 21:39 40 PAGES NO: 16083 150 FILS Contract signed after final hurdle cleared • Nisf officially out KUWAIT: Loss-making state-owned Kuwait Airways Co signed contracts with Airbus yesterday to buy 25 Bedoons step up protests in Taima planes, its first order for new aircraft in more than 20 years, the airline’s chairwoman said. Under the deals, By Hanan Al-Saadoun KAC will buy 15 A320neo and 10 A350-900 aircraft, with an option to buy 10 more - five from each category, said KUWAIT: For the second day in a row, Rasha Al-Roumi, cited by the official KUNA news bedoons protested in Taima in Jahra agency. Delivery is to commence in 2019. The second amidst a heavy security blockade contract stipulates the lease of seven A320s and five around the area, said security sources, A330s. They will start arriving in December and will all noting that security forces arrested be delivered before next summer, said Roumi, who was political activist Abdul Hakeem Al-Fadhli appointed to the post last month. and a state security case was filed The value of the deals was not disclosed but local against him. media put the figure at around $4.0 billion. KAC, which The sources said security forces used is being readied for privatisation, and Airbus signed a tear gas and percussion grenades to dis- memorandum of understanding in December. Earlier perse protesters who took to the streets this month, parliament called on its legal committee to to condemn what they described as the investigate the new deals by KAC, and the probe should ‘abduction’ of bedoon activist Abdullah be completed within one month. Atallah, who was pursued by detectives The contracts were signed after a main obstacle was in six civilian vehicles, forced to pull over moved out of the way on Monday, a local daily reported and arrested for statements he made yesterday. Airbus had requested insurance for the insulting Interior Minister Sheikh leased planes, but KAC could not make any decision Mohammed Al-Khaled Al-Sabah and his without the government’s approval. But this changed predecessor Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud during the Cabinet’s weekly meeting on Monday, when Al-Sabah. He had also called for dismiss- acting finance minister Abdulmohsen Al-Mudej was giv- ing the head of the bedoon central en authorization to sign a government letter of credit apparatus chief Saleh Al-Fadhalah. KUWAIT: Fires burn in Taima in Jahra after bedoons held a protest yesterday. (Right) A policeman is treated after he was that paves the way to make the highly-anticipated deal official. Continued on Page 13 injured in clashes. — Photos by Fouad Al-Shaikh Continued on Page13 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014 LOCAL KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah attending the ceremony to honor winners of the Quran memorization and recitation contest. Amir attends Quran memorization awards ceremony KUWAIT: The Ministry of Justice, Awqaf, and In a speech to the gathering of the contestants, Up to 2,640 contestants took part in this year’s Kharafi welcomed the increasing number of Support. Moreover, he said the Secretariat had Islamic Affairs held yesterday its annual celebration their families and relatives, and numerous govern- contest, he said, out of whom 1,767 reached the female contestants and listed the Secretariat’s issued a Declaration for Protection of Women from of honoring winners in its Quran memorization ment officials, the Minister of Justice noted that final eliminations round and 173 winners were efforts in promoting the status of women in socie- Family Violence. The celebration included showing and recitation contest at which His Highness the this was the 17th year that the ministry honored selected from both sexes. ty, through the launching of many campaigns a short documentary on the history of the contest, Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah was the young people who had excelled in memorizing In a similar speech, head of the Secretariat under such banners as Alimony and Child Support, after which His Highness the Amir gave out valu- guest of honor. and reciting the Holy Quran. Affairs at the ministry, Abdulmohsen Al-Jarallah Al- Marriage Counseling, Women and Means of Self- able prizes to the winners. —KUNA CP a unique example of a patriotic leader Gulf states, Russia KUWAIT: His Highness the Crown community today is result of the striving to preserve national unity, which is equivalent to the pride Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al- wise leadership of His Highness the upholding democracy and the con- and love he has for them, said disagree on Syria Jaber Al-Sabah is a unique example Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- stitution, and stressing rule of law. Director General and Chairman of of a patriotic leader and continues Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness “A unique and un-paralleled Kuwait News Agency Sheikh By Velina Nacheva tion in Syria, the views of the two sides were dif- to accumulate unique accomplish- the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al- example of love of homeland, we Mubarak Al-Duaij Al-Ibrahim Al- ferent, but they agreed to continue contacts in a ments in a career he started back in Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah ... and the see that His Highness rarely leaves Sabah. KUWAIT: There are growing attempts to depict bid to reach a common understanding.” Lavrov the early 1960s, Information two continue to strive to meet their the country, as he feels ease and HH has always been providing the outcome of the Geneva II talks on the Syria cri- stressed that there is an urgent task to “ease the Minister and State Minister for people’s ambitions for a modern comfort only among his fellow citi- support and influential help to sis as a failure, which brings suspicion that those humanitarian situation in Syria” where the suffer- Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah state with strong backbone of sci- zens,” the minister said. Kuwait throughout the years. He is talking about a failure are secretly conspiring a ing continues. ”Probably it is not as fast as we Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah said ence, know-how, and the latest His Highness the Crown Prince a great role model and a faithful military solution. This is unacceptable for Russia, want it to be. Humanitarian aid and local cease- yesterday. technology ... (which would enable successfully served as statesman, leader who is dedicated to serving said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. “Let’s fires should be negotiated,” he said. The minister’s remark comes as it to become) an international trade and is seen devoted to serve along- his country and its people as he wait until it’s (the talks are) over before we say that The ongoing bloodshed in Syria, Iran’s nuclear the country marks today the eighth center.” side his Amir for the welfare of the continues to leave prominent it is a failure,” Lavrov said in response to a question program and the advancement of the anniversary of His Highness the Having served in several posts homeland and people, as well as to impressions in various fields, he about the differences in opinion on Syria during Palestinian-Israeli peace talks were the focal point Crown Prince taking of the consti- since the start of his career, Sheikh serve just causes of world peace said, noting that his achievements, the GCC and Russia ministerial meeting held in of discussion during the Russia-GCC ministerial tutional oath before the National Nawaf succeeded in leaving a and humanity, Sheikh Salman not- especially in Hawally governorate, Kuwait yesterday. Lavrov agreed that there were meeting. Lavrov said that earlier in the day he Assembly. strong impression and legacy, the ed. were unique as he was able to turn differences of opinion, but said both sides were extended an invitation on behalf of Russian “The high status our country minister noted, and had always HH Sheikh Nawaf has a special it into a major tourist and commer- committed to a peaceful settlement. President Vladimir Putin to HH the Amir of Kuwait enjoys within the international served as the greatest example of place in the hearts of Kuwaitis, cial spot. —KUNA Lavrov made the remarks during a press con- Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to visit ference held after the session of the Third Moscow. Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue On the rising tensions in Ukraine leading to between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) the death of 25 people, Lavrov said it “was a coup countries and the Russian federation at Bayan attempt or a military seizure of power”. Lavrov Palace yesterday. The meeting focused on ways to elaborated that the events in Ukraine are a provo- boost bilateral relations and mutual cooperation cation from Western countries who interfere in between the GCC countries and Russia, in addi- the domestic affairs of the country. Flirting with tion to regional and international issues of joint radicals and threats of sanctions provoked these interest. actions, he said. According to Lavrov, the two sides had “minor Since the start of the Syria crisis that has differences on tactical matters... but we are mov- claimed 140,000 lives in the past three years, ing towards one goal”.”We concur that everything Russia has blocked Security Council resolutions must be done to ease the situation in Syria and to three times.