Embassy of the Republic of Korea to the State of Kuwait

Wednesday/ 6 January 2009

Korea-Kuwait Relations

Kuwait University signs environmental research memorandum with Korean company 
The Research Department at Kuwait University signed a memorandum for environmental research with Korea’s Ecofil Co. Kuwait University Vice President for Researches Dr. Fahad Al-Thageb and Ecofil Regional Manager of Middle East and North Africa signed the memorandum, which aims to promote technological coordination through research cooperation in the fields of water treatment and soil reclamation. Ecofil, which is a government sponsored entity, is specialized in marine pollution control and researches and has expressed a desire for cooperate with the Research Department at the new university to be established in Al-Shadadiyah area.(Al-Seyassah-with photo)

Kuwait External Affairs

Amir, Abbass discuss peace process and Palestinian unity 
HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who arrived on Tuesday on a two-day visit, held summit talks yesterday that tackled the bilateral relations and ways of consolidating and developing them in all fields. The talks also covered means of expanding cooperation between the two sides in what serves their mutual interests, the most important issues of mutual concern and the latest developments on the regional and international scene. Reliable sources mentioned that Kuwaiti side has asserted during the meeting its full and constant support to the Palestinian cause. Asked whether the talks included offering financial support to the Palestinian side, the sources noted that Kuwait’s assistance and support to the Palestinians remain constant in all cases and not linked to specific visits. Meanwhile, the visiting   Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in a news conference that his  visit to Kuwait was to review with the Kuwaiti side the developments of the situation in the Middle East region, especially the currently exerted efforts for reviving the Israeli- Palestinian peace negotiations and closing the Palestinian ranks. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is to depart Kuwait today to Turkey on a two-day official visit during which he will hold talks with President Abdullah Gul.(Al-Seyassah)

GCC foreign ministerial meeting to be held in Sanaa end of this month
Al-Seyassah learned that foreign ministers of the GCC countries and Yemen will hold a periodical meeting in Yemen at the end of this month to show solidarity and support to the Yemeni authorities on its crackdown on Al-Houthi rebels and Al-Qaeda activists. The concerned Yemeni authorities are now holding intensive contacts with the officials at foreign ministries in the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to fix the date of the one-day meeting between January 20 & 23. Well-informed diplomatic sources expect the GCC foreign ministers to take supportive stances for Yemen and to adopt economic decisions to promote partnership between the GCC states and Yemen.(Al-Seyassah)

Appointment of new British Ambassador to Kuwait
Frank Baker, OBE, has been appointed as the new British Her Ambassador to Kuwait, in succession to Michael Aron, who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mr Baker will take up his appointment during January 2010.(All Newspapers)

IOC suspends Kuwait Olympic committee
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has suspended Kuwait's national Olympic committee because of alleged political interference by the government. The IOC said the decision was taken by its executive board to protect the Olympic movement in Kuwait. The suspension took effect on January 1. The IOC mentioned that Kuwait failed to meet a December 31 deadline for amending a law that allows the Gulf state to interfere in elections of sports organizations. The IOC had been working with Kuwaiti officials since 2007 to resolve the issue. The suspension means Kuwaiti athletes and officials are barred from the Olympics.(Al-Qabas)

Kuwait Domestic Affairs

Government-parliamentary tactic fails assembly session dedicated for voting loans rescheduling bill
Al-Jareeda daily reported that the government succeeded in spoiling the parliament yesterday’s session allocated for voting on crescheduling citizens loans bill. The session on Tuesday was deferred to Wednesday as a result of heated debates between the MPs after a group of lawmakers asked for introducing new amendments on a report for rescheduling citizens' consumer debts. A number of lawmakers accused the government of planning the move of the new amendments with MPs supporting the government’s stance on the issue in order to fail the session. Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi adjourned the session until Wednesday as he failed to bring order to the floor when supporters and opponents of the plan traded accusations. Al-Kharafi ordered postponement of the session to tomorrow after the MPs traded strongly-termed rhetoric following a request by a number of members of the parliament to introduce new amendments on the report of the parliamentary committee of financial and economic affairs with respect of the bill for re-scheduling the debts. The parliament had approved giving the committee two hours to hold a sideline meeting for examining the proposed modifications following the first reading of the bill, stipulating that banks and investments companies should re-schedule the assets of the consumer and installed loans and regulating future loans. The parliament was due to vote on the bill after the second reading, after the committee finalized its review and briefed the MPs at the session about the amended articles, but when some MPs requested further amendments, others responded in a negative manner, thus creating tension at the hall and prompting the speaker to declare adjourning the debate.(Al-Jareeda)

Ahmed Al-Jassar named undersecretary of water and electricity 
Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Roudhan Al-Roudhan on Tuesday announced that the cabinet has approved a decree appointing Ahmed Al-Jassar as Undersecretary of Ministry of Electricity and Water.(Al-Rai)

Headlines of Global Issues

• Iraqi Vice-President Tareq Al-Hashimi called Tuesday for reconsideration of relations with Iran as a mean to exercise pressure on Tehran following Iranian forces' occupation of an oil well in southern Iraq last month.
• The US and British embassies in Sanaa reopened to the public Tuesday after a two-day closure prompted by threats from the regional branch of Al-Qaeda.
• UN Security Council President Yesui Zhang of China on Tuesday said the time is not right to impose further sanctions on Iran for refusing to halt its nuclear enrichment activities and insisted that the diplomatic efforts should continue.

Headlines

• Kuwaiti crude oil went up 82 cents to come to USD 77.53 per barrel (pb) on Monday, compared to Thursday's price, said the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation on Tuesday.
• Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah met Tuesday with Grenadian counterpart Peter David on occasion of his visit to the country.