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Kuwait: Emiri Pardon Paves Way for Resolving Outstanding Issues

Speaker of the Kuwaiti National Assembly Ahmed Al-Saadoun
Speaker of the Kuwaiti National Assembly Ahmed Al-Saadoun
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Kuwait: Emiri Pardon Paves Way for Resolving Outstanding Issues

Speaker of the Kuwaiti National Assembly Ahmed Al-Saadoun
Speaker of the Kuwaiti National Assembly Ahmed Al-Saadoun

Speaker of the Kuwaiti National Assembly Ahmed Al-Saadoun hailed a pardon issued by Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah for a number of Kuwaiti figures, who were either under arrest or living abroad.

On Tuesday, the Council of Ministers issued a statement pertaining to Decree No. 8 of 2023, which grants pardon to Kuwaiti figures, including personalities living abroad, who were sentenced in absentia.

In a statement, the Council of Ministers said that the move was expected to lead to “fruitful cooperation between the executive and legislative authorities, in accordance with the constitutional foundations.”

The media circulated the names of a number of those included in the decree, including members of the ruling family, former deputies, businessmen, political activists, and tweeters, some of whom are under arrest or live outside the country.

Observers expect the amnesty initiative would contribute to alleviating tension that increased over the past two weeks, as a result of disagreements between the government and members of the National Assembly over dropping loans and aid programs that MPs are seeking to push the government to approve.

“The overwhelming joy expressed by the Kuwaiti people on all platforms after the issuance of the pardon… is a true reflection of the importance of the decision, which the citizens have waited for several years,” MP Khaled Otaibi said in a press statement.

The Islamic Constitutional Movement, Hadas, issued a statement welcoming the Emiri pardon and calling for the amnesty to also include other figures.

Kuwaiti political analyst Dr. Ayed Al-Manna told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Emiri decree which granted pardon to a large number of Kuwaiti figures sentenced by judicial rulings “was positively welcomed by citizens, a number of parliamentarians, as well as political activists.”

“We hope that this will be the beginning of a better stage, which will see more cooperation between the two authorities,” he noted.

The Kuwaiti analyst added that the new decision could pave the way for resolving other outstanding issues, including housing, education, and investments inside Kuwait, as well as increasing the salaries of employees, allocating benefits to widows and divorced women, and providing job opportunities in the private sector.

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GCC Chief to Asharq Al-Awsat: Escalation Poses Grave Threat to Gulf Security

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi
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GCC Chief to Asharq Al-Awsat: Escalation Poses Grave Threat to Gulf Security

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is maintaining regular and active communication with all international parties involved in the ongoing conflict, as part of broader diplomatic efforts to promote de-escalation, GCC Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi told Asharq Al-Awsat Wednesday.

Albudaiwi said the GCC views the military escalation between Iran and Israel as a “grave threat” to the security and stability of the Gulf region. He added that the Council, through its official channels, continues to emphasize that “dialogue and restraint” remain the most effective path to safeguarding regional security and stability.

As military confrontations between Israel and Iran entered their sixth day on Wednesday, Albudaiwi warned that the situation was “unprecedented and deeply concerning”.

Albudaiwi also noted that the GCC’s 48th extraordinary ministerial meeting on Monday concluded that the rapidly unfolding events could spiral into a wider regional conflict.

He added that the Council is ramping up diplomatic pressure, calling on all international actors -- including the UN Security Council -- to intervene and prevent further escalation.

Albudaiwi also pointed to the unified Gulf statement issued after the emergency meeting, alongside individual condemnations by all six GCC member states. The declarations denounced Israel’s strikes on Iran and called for immediate de-escalation and restraint.

The Secretary-General underscored the bloc’s ongoing diplomatic push, noting that Gulf states have urged the United States to pressure Israel into accepting an immediate ceasefire.

The GCC is also advocating for the revival of nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran, as part of a coordinated Gulf and international initiative to contain the crisis.

The GCC is holding regular talks with the United Nations, the United States, and allied nations as part of its diplomatic campaign to defuse tensions between Iran and Israel, Albudaiwi confirmed.

“These are the main formal channels for dialogue,” Albudaiwi told Asharq Al-Awsat, adding that the Council has sent unified diplomatic messages rejecting the ongoing escalation and urging restraint.

The communications also included calls to revive peace efforts in the region.

He explained that the GCC’s diplomatic engagement spans official correspondence, closed-door talks, and meetings held within international frameworks, all aimed at restoring regional stability and absorbing tensions without resorting to military options.

“Through this approach, GCC states are pursuing a comprehensive and balanced diplomatic strategy that hinges on communication and coordination with major international powers and global organizations,” Albudaiwi said.

“The objective is clear: to contain the crisis and prevent it from erupting into a broader regional confrontation,” he affirmed.

Albudaiwi mentioned that the GCC has reached “advanced levels” of coordination among member states to confront disasters and emergencies, including non-conventional threats such as chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear attacks.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that Gulf states are actively engaged in joint preparedness efforts through early warning and detection networks, enabling rapid and coordinated responses to potential crises.

In light of growing concerns over potential fallout from Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, Albudaiwi stressed that the GCC states are equipped with sophisticated radiation and environmental monitoring systems.

These systems allow for the real-time exchange of data via secure channels among relevant national authorities to detect any abnormal indicators at an early stage.

He said this capability is supported by the GCC Emergency Management Center, which plays a key role in coordinating simulation exercises and joint drills focused on unconventional weapons scenarios. These efforts span civilian, security, and defense sectors and aim to boost collective readiness, update national emergency plans, and improve response coordination.

The drills, Albudaiwi noted, are conducted in line with global best practices and are backed by intergovernmental agreements involving defense, interior, and health ministries, all designed to reinforce the Gulf’s collective security framework in the face of emerging threats.