KUWAIT CITY, July 23: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received here Monday, in the attendance of His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the head and members of the new cabinet.

During the reception, His Highness the Amir swore-in the new cabinet which consisted of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Ahmad Hamoud Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sheikh Ahmad Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Minister of State for Housing Affairs Anas Khalid Al-Saleh, Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs Jamal Ahmad Al-Shihab, Minister of Communications and Acting Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Salem Muthiab Al-Utheina.

It also included Minister of Planning and Development and Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs Rola Abdullah Dashti, Minister of Health Ali Saad Al-Obeidi, Minister of Electricity and Water and Minister of State for Municipal Affairs Abdulaziz Abdullatif Al-Ibrahim, Minister of Information and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, Minister of Finance, Minister of Education and Acting Minister of Higher Education Nayef Falah Al-Hajraf, and Minister of Oil and Acting Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Hani Abdulaziz Hussein.

His Highness Sheikh Sabah delivered a speech during the ceremony in which he congratulated the ministers on their new posts, hoping that they would attend to their duties with utmost care and vigor.
He also took the chance to thank the previous cabinet for its efforts in running the affairs of the state.
The Amir called on the new ministers to abide by the constitution and to serve the country and people in order to overcome obstacles in the way of Kuwait’s development.

On his part, Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak thanked His Highness Sheikh Sabah for his trust in the new cabinet, affirming that he and his fellow ministers would do their best to bring development and prosperity to the people of Kuwait.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister of the Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah, Secretary General of Cabinet Abdulatif Al-Roudan, Head of the Amir office Ahmad Fahad Al-Fahad, and head of the Amiri protocols department Sheikh Khaled Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah Al-Nasser Al-Sabah.

The newly sworn-in Cabinet on Monday underlined future priorities called for by HH the Amir, which include haste in identifying the repercussions of the decision to reinstate the former parliament.

Speaking on behalf of his fellow ministers, after taking the oath of office, Information Minister and State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdallah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah said these priorities, in implementation of the directions of the Amir, are aimed at resolving current troubles in the nation.

The minister described the new cabinet, as coming into force at a historical stage which holds a number of significant issues, highlighted by HH the Amir, which need to be addressed.

Among these issues are the need to hasten discussing the repercussions of the constitutional court verdict to reinstate the 2009 parliament instead of the one elected earlier this year.

Others include fighting all forms of division and prejudice in the country and instead, coming together as Kuwaitis, without tribal, sectarian or other affiliations, focusing on problems affecting nationals in the country and endeavoring to solving them.

His Highness stressed the importance of protecting public funds and bolstering transparency and integrity while doing so.

There is also a need to lay the proper guidelines to ensure implementation of the state’s development plan and to review the procedures and mechanisms of preparing the annual plan and the government’s working plans to ensure a realistic view and avoid delay. This includes follow-up mechanisms and penal measures where there is wrongdoing, as well as reduction in red-tape where possible.

The role of media in our times is as sensitive as ever, he also said, and in addition to getting information across, media institutions have a duty to preserve national unity and identity and promote national sentiments and Kuwaiti values. They should operate within the legal framework of responsible and accountable freedom which does not condone chaos and shows our homeland in a civilized light.
The ministers expressed their agreement on the priorities set out by His Highness and stressed they serve to draft a clear-cut methodology in the national strife for reform and development in all fields.

They also reflect his keenness on meeting the people’s expectations and easing their concerns and solving their problems.

The cabinet decided to form a committee presided by the state minister for cabinet affairs which includes the minister of justice and legal affairs, minister of state for planning and development, and the minister of finance. The committee is to draw the itemized plan for realizing these priorities in a manner that preserves the national interest, and the plan is to be presented and put to discussion in the next cabinet meeting.
The First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmad Humoud Al-Jaber replied on behalf of the cabinet, and said the ministers are all eager to prove worthy of the great honor and trust of His Highness the Amir in their appointment.

The cabinet approved a draft decree on implementation of the Constitutional Court rulings issued June 20, 2012 concerning the elections.

The decree overrides decree 443/2011 which disbanded parliament and renders it null and void.
It also overrides decree 447/2011 which called for a subsequent National Assembly vote, and also renders it null and void. The decree states that parliament is to convene for the fourth session of the 13th legislative term.

The decree was forwarded to His Highness the Amir.

Session
Speaker of Parliament Jassem Al-Khorafi announced on Monday that he will invite a parliament session on July 31. He said the Cabinet will take its oath during the session provided there is a quorum. Members of the opposition majority bloc have vowed they will boycott any parliament sessions of the reinstated 2009 legislative authority.

“However, if there is a lack of quorum, the session will be postponed to the following week and, if the quorum is still unavailable, I will refer the matter to HH the Amir,” stated Al-Khorafi.

Speaking at a press conference at the National Assembly, Al-Khorafi urged the executive authority to fully study the constitutionality of amending the Electoral Code. He said a redrawing of the constituencies should not be in favor of a certain sect or tribe and warned the government not to fear those who threaten it from completing the constitutional procedures.

“I am confident that the government is studying the situation as Kuwait cannot handle any further instability and constitutional confusion,” he stated.

Al-Khorafi further explained that emergency decrees are not unprecedented in Kuwait, as a similar situation occurred in 1981 and it is the constitutional right of HH the Amir. He added that the MPs who are objecting to it have participated in the legislative authority of ‘81, and that HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah will be responsible if the procedures are unconstitutional.

Al-Khorafi said the question remains on whether the 2009 Assembly will continue or be dissolved, warning that the next legislative authority will not last a month if election procedures are unconstitutional.

“Strengthening certain tribes at the expense of others is refused because we are one country, so we must refrain from stirring up sedition and provoking topics. Our problem is that we talk about the Constitution as if we are experts but we have to be qualified to talk about constitutional procedures. It is best to refer to the Constitutional Court to adjudicate on such matters,” he stated.

The Speaker said that Al-Erada Square is not the place for threats and intimidation and that it was the Constitutional Court which enabled gatherings at the square. Constitutional procedures should be undertaken at the National Assembly not Al-Erada Square, he concluded.