| 'Kuwait flag to be hoisted at London Olympics' |
| | Thu, 17 May 2012 |
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KUWAIT: The Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Ahmad Al-Rujaib said on Wednesday that he pledged to the Parliamentary Health Committee to lift the ban on raising Kuwait's flag at the London Olympics, if the committee endorses sports amendments.
The minister told reporters that the issue of re-hoisting Kuwait's flag at the London Olympus in July has been discussed at the committee's meeting in a transparent manner, adding that all the issues pertaining to sports amendments have been equally deliberated. Al-Rujaib expected that an approval will be received for lifting the suspension before July, particularly since Kuwait's sports laws have been aligned with the International Charter. The official further remarked that the Kuwait Olympic Committee's proposed amendments have been forwarded to the International Olympics Committee, adding that a response was received on Wednesday containing an approval for the said proposals.
The Chairman of the Health Committee Mubarak Al-Waalan announced that the committee will hold a session to listen to the views of those concerned with sports on Sunday, in order to end the ongoing wrangling over the issue and to finalize the amendments.
Al-Waalan said that the committee was keen to invite all parties linked to the sports reformations, adding that Al-Rejeib had asserted during the meeting that the Kuwaiti flag will be raised and His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah will be able to take part in the event under Kuwait's flag, if the amendments are made. He said that he met with the Asian Olympic Committee, the representatives of the Kuwaiti Olympic Committee, and some other MPs for advice.
He remarked that the committee is divided into two teams, where one believes that the ban will be lifted once the amendments are approved, while the other team believes that amendments must be made to those laws before they are approved.
Meanwhile, members of the Minority Bloc are likely to refrain from voting on the proposals put forth by members of the Majority, on the grounds that they were not previously consulted on the matter. An independent Member of Parliament (MP) argued that these proposals are in line with a particular agenda agreed upon by the Majority Bloc to serve certain political interests, rather than being development-oriented.
The lawmaker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, questioned the great enthusiasm shown by the members of the Majority to push for pressing particular legislations, even though they do not carry significant importance. He described the current era in the country as "difficult", and that lawmakers will be held responsible for any action or legislation that do not serve the best interest of the country.
The source indicated that members of the Minority will press ahead with bills pertaining to fighting corruption, integrity, asset disclosure, conflict of interests, and the protection of informants.
In another development, sources within the Majority Bloc revealed that the bloc is facing challenges in building a consensus around the most suitable mechanism to discuss the two interpellations filed against the Minister of Finance Mustafa Al-Shamali. The Parliament is due to look into the requests to grill the minister on May 22. A source told Al Watan that the meeting, to be held by the Majority on Saturday at MP Khaled Al-Tahous' diwaniya, will discuss this issue. During the meeting, a request is due to be made for one of the interpellations to be dropped.
The Majority Bloc will also consider the amendment of a number of laws including the Constitutional Court Law, the Trial of Ministers Law, and the Parliament's Charter Law. The members will equally discuss the draft interpellation that MP Khaled Shukhayyer plans to submit against the Defense Minister.
Furthermore, MP Nabeel Al-Fadhl addressed a letter to the National Assembly Speaker Ahmad Al-Saadoun regarding the appointment of advisors to parliamentary committees, even though they do not serve the government or the National Assembly. They regarded the appointment of Mohammad Al-Jassem and Fawaz Al-Jedaie a violation of Article 46 of the Parliament's Internal Charter.
For his part, MP Riadh Al-Adsani announced that he will file a motion to question the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor. The lawmaker disclosed that the minister will be grilled on his failure to enforce the law for disabled people, and other issues such as residency, expatriate labor force, sports crisis, syndicates, the enforcement of court sentences, price increases and the violations involving cooperative societies.
In the meantime, MP Dr. Khaled Shukhayyer asserted that the 28-aircraft deal will not only hasten the minister's interpellation, but will also speed up his referral to the tribunal for the trial of ministers.
Separately, MP Hussein Al-Qallaf addressed a question to the Minister of Education and the Minister of Higher Education Hussein Al-Qallaf demanding information about the university where MP Abdullah Al-Tareeji obtained his PhD degree and whether the latter had a study leave when he was doing his degree while serving the military.
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