Kuwait: Decision to Dissolve National Assembly Widely Welcomed

A view shows the first parliament session held after elections, in Kuwait City, Kuwait December 15, 2020. REUTERS/Stephanie McGehee
A view shows the first parliament session held after elections, in Kuwait City, Kuwait December 15, 2020. REUTERS/Stephanie McGehee
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Kuwait: Decision to Dissolve National Assembly Widely Welcomed

A view shows the first parliament session held after elections, in Kuwait City, Kuwait December 15, 2020. REUTERS/Stephanie McGehee
A view shows the first parliament session held after elections, in Kuwait City, Kuwait December 15, 2020. REUTERS/Stephanie McGehee

The decision of Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al Sabah to constitutionally dissolve the National Assembly and call for new general elections was widely welcomed by politicians and parliament members.

National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim said in a tweet: “Based on Sharia, the Constitution, and our morals as Kuwaitis, we must rally around the political leadership in what it sees as the supreme interest of the nation, and support and assist it until we take Kuwait to safety.”

In a speech on behalf of Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber Al Sabah, Sheikh Meshal said: “We have decided to dissolve the National Assembly and call for general elections… The people themselves will have the final word in correcting the political scene by selecting those who properly represent them.”

Former National Assembly Speaker Ahmed Al-Saadoun expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation to the Emir of Kuwait and the Crown Prince.

For his part, former MP Musallam Al-Barrak said: “Thank you, Your Highness, you have made a wise decision to preserve Kuwait and its people, and you have fulfilled your oath before God and the people… Peace has settled in the hearts of the people.”

The National Democratic Alliance in Kuwait issued a statement in which it valued the constitutional principles on which the political leadership’s discourse was based, especially with regards to giving the Kuwaiti people the opportunity “to choose their representatives without the interference of the political authority.”

The National Democratic Alliance called on all political parties and the Kuwaiti people “to seize this opportunity to rebuild confidence in our political and democratic institutions and to choose their representatives wisely for the next assembly.”

The Islamic Constitutional Movement said that the crown prince’s speech ended the political impasse in the country.

In a statement, the movement said: “The constitutional dissolution of the National Assembly ends the complete paralysis that afflicted the two authorities, which halted the desired development and disrupted legislation and serious oversight. Returning to the people is the ideal constitutional solution, which affirms that the nation is the source of all powers.”

MP Ali Al-Kattan called on the people to rally behind the Kuwaiti leadership, saying: “Following the speech of His Highness, Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al Sabah, we can only rally around our wise political leadership that puts the interest of Kuwait and its people above everything else.”



Kuwait Includes 8 Lebanese Hospitals on 'Terror' List

Kuwait indicated that it had listed eight hospitals in Lebanon as part of regulations related to "combating terrorism.” KUNA
Kuwait indicated that it had listed eight hospitals in Lebanon as part of regulations related to "combating terrorism.” KUNA
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Kuwait Includes 8 Lebanese Hospitals on 'Terror' List

Kuwait indicated that it had listed eight hospitals in Lebanon as part of regulations related to "combating terrorism.” KUNA
Kuwait indicated that it had listed eight hospitals in Lebanon as part of regulations related to "combating terrorism.” KUNA

Kuwait's foreign ministry issued on Sunday a circular indicating that it had listed eight hospitals in Lebanon as part of regulations related to "combating terrorism.”

Lebanon's health ministry expressed surprise and said it would seek clarification.

It said it received the Kuwaiti statement "with great surprise", adding it had not been provided with "any information or notification from any Kuwaiti entity about this matter.”

"The hospitals mentioned in the statement are registered with the syndicate of private hospitals in Lebanon and carry out their role in providing treatment and health services to all Lebanese without exception," the ministry statement said.

It called the facilities "an essential part of the Lebanese health system,” and said it would contact the relevant authorities to request clarification and "protect Lebanon's health system.”

It noted that "Kuwait has numerous joint projects with the ministry... and has been among the most prominent countries that have stood by the health system during the successive crises that Lebanon has faced.”

The latest move was "unprecedented and inconsistent" with the Gulf country's usual approach, it added.


Saudi and Guatemalan FMs Discuss Bilateral Ties

The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs met on Sunday with his Guatemalan counterpart in Riyadh. SPA
The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs met on Sunday with his Guatemalan counterpart in Riyadh. SPA
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Saudi and Guatemalan FMs Discuss Bilateral Ties

The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs met on Sunday with his Guatemalan counterpart in Riyadh. SPA
The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs met on Sunday with his Guatemalan counterpart in Riyadh. SPA

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met on Sunday with his Guatemalan counterpart Carlos Ramiro Martínez in Riyadh.

During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations and discussed developments of mutual interest.


Faisal bin Farhan, Barrack Discuss Developments in Syria

The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince met on Sunday with the US Special Envoy for Syria in Riyadh.(SPA)
The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince met on Sunday with the US Special Envoy for Syria in Riyadh.(SPA)
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Faisal bin Farhan, Barrack Discuss Developments in Syria

The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince met on Sunday with the US Special Envoy for Syria in Riyadh.(SPA)
The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince met on Sunday with the US Special Envoy for Syria in Riyadh.(SPA)

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met on Sunday with US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack in Riyadh.

During the meeting, they reviewed developments in Syria.