His Highness Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah

KUWAIT CITY, Nov 1: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- Jaber Al-Sabah on Wednesday issued an Amiri Decree reappointing His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al- Sabah as Prime Minister and instructed the latter to appoint members of the new Cabinet.The Amiri Decree states that having considered the Constitution and our decree issued on 10 Safar 1439, corresponding to Oct 30, 2017 on accepting the resignation of the Prime Minister and Ministers and after holding traditional consultations, we ordered the following: Article One: His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al- Mubarak is appointed as Prime Minister and charged with nominating members of the new Cabinet and present their names to us to issue a decree appointing them. Article Two: The Prime Minister shall carry out this order and report to the National Assembly. This shall be effective from the date of issuance and it will be published in the Official Gazette. Meanwhile, Article 56 of the Constitution stipulates that:(1) The Amir, after traditional consultations, appoints the Prime Minister and relieves him of office. The Amir also appoints Ministers and relieves them of office upon the recommendation of the Prime Minister.(2) Ministers are appointed from amongst members of the National Assembly and others.(3) The total number of Ministers shall not exceed onethird of the number of National Assembly members. Earlier, His Highness the Amir received at Bayan Palace His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad, National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak as part of traditional consultations that precede formation of the new government.His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sent Wednesday a cable to His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak congratulating him on being reassigned as Prime Minister of the country.His Highness the Crown Prince lauded His Highness the Amir for putting his trust in Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak who is now tasked with forming the new Cabinet. His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf wished His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak all the success in his endeavor to serve the people and country.Meanwhile, MP Mubarak Al-Hajraf disclosed he prepared a grilling request against acting Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Hind Al-Sabeeh on several issues in case she returns to the government. He is hoping for harmonious relations with the new government, wishing the Prime Minister-designate will form a harmonious team.In another development, acting First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah has confirmed that his ministry is coordinating with its defense counterpart in accordance with the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects and to present its periodical report to the Convention Secretariat in Geneva.This is in response to the question of MP Osama Al- Shaheen about measures taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after the discovery of landmine or ammunition believed to be remnants of the Iraqi invasion. He explained the ministry sends annually to the Convention Secretariat all information and reports prepared by its defense counterpart on banning the use, stockpiling, production, disposal and transfer of anti-personnel mines. He said these reports include all cases uncovered by the competent authorities throughout the year.If an expatriate died due to landmine or ammunition, the ministry shall take consular action in coordination with the concerned embassy to repatriate the body if the relatives wish to do so, as well as complete formal and legal procedures related to death, he added.Talking about treaties and conventions on anti-personnel mines, he disclosed that Kuwait is a party to two conventions. He said Article Four of the first convention states that each State party undertakes to destroy or ensure the destruction of all stockpiled anti-personnel mines owned, acquired or under its jurisdiction or control as soon as possible, not later than four years after the entry into force of the Convention by that State.Article Five regulates destruction of anti-personnel mines in mined areas and how civilians are protected during such destruction.Second is the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects and the Protocols thereto, which the State of Kuwait agreed to through Law No. 24/2013 on Feb 14, 2013. He added the second convention consists of five additional protocols, two of which are related to mine action — Protocol II dealing with landmines, traps, deception and other means, and Protocol V dealing with explosive remnants of war.He explained that under Protocol V, State parties and parties to an armed conflict must act to clear, remove or destroy explosive remnants of war and to record and retain information related to the use or abandonment of unexploded ordnance. He said the Foreign Affairs Office provides all necessary information and assistance in locating mines, booby traps and other Iraqi explosives, as well as weapons, chemical and biological materials in Kuwait and parts of Iraq where forces of member-States are cooperating with Kuwait pursuant to Resolution 678/1990 and in neighboring waters, as well as following up the implementation of provisions of this resolution in coordination with the Ministry of Defense which is the concerned authority in the State.On another issue, MP Dr Mohamed Al-Huwailah has presented a proposal to establish an advanced prostheses center and allocate special wards for amputees in medical centers and hospitals. He pointed out the Artificial Limbs Center in the country is not fully equipped for amputees, starting from the building up to the lack of technicians and specialists in installing prosthetics.He added that giving attention to people with special needs is the characteristic of civilized nations and such behavior is measured by the level of society’s awareness of the issue and human rights. He stressed that around 1,500 to 2,000 amputees in the country are facing a lot of problems including the lack of an integrated rehabilitation center to help amputees psychologically and socially. By Abubakar A. Ibrahim Arab Times Staff and Agencies