KUWAIT: The empty chair of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah is seen during yesterday's cabinet meeting. - KUNA

KUWAIT: The cabinet yesterday tasked the Public Authority of Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) with taking necessary measures towards delivering plots of land where the Gulf railway project goes through to the Ministry of Communications. This came during a cabinet meeting held at Seif Palace under the chairmanship of Acting Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.

The cabinet was briefed on the recommendations of the public services committee pertaining to the track of the project inside the State of Kuwait. T

he cabinet also urged the authority to remove all obstacles in order to carry out this vital project as soon as possible.

The Ministry of Communications had earlier stressed the importance of this project among GCC member states in supporting development projects, exchanging trade and transferring commodities, and passengers as well as promoting cooperation and integration in this field. The State of Kuwait had specified the two main tracks of the project along 564 kilometers.

Hospital fire

Meanwhile, the cabinet offered sincere condolences to Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz over the victims of a hospital fire in the kingdom's southwestern Jazan. The cabinet wished speedy recovery to those injured in the hospital fire. Last Thursday, at least 25 people died and 107 suffered injuries in the fire which broke out in the first floor of the four-story hospital building, the Civil Defense said in a statement.

Jleeb's raid

In the meantime, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah briefed the cabinet on the wide scale security campaign launched in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh area where thousands of residence law violators, law breakers and outlaws were arrested. Various threats to security were also unearthed. The cabinet lauded the campaign and the great efforts by the security personnel to maintain stability of the nation, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah stated.

Also yesterday, the cabinet tasked the Supreme Council of Environment with taking the necessary measures for turning the area of Maqalea Al-Salboukh north of the country into a nature reserve. Further, the cabinet approved and referred to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah a draft decree on the appointment of Counselor Yousef Jassim Al-Mutaw'a as head of the Court of Cassation.

Lawmaker eulogized

The cabinet also eulogized late MP Nabil Al-Fadhl who died in Abdullah Al-Salim Hall during last Tuesday's National Assembly session. The ministers recalled with high-appreciation Al-Fadhl's sincere efforts and positive role to serve causes of the nation, as an MP who fulfilled his responsibilities faithfully and competently.

As yesterday's meeting started, the cabinet congratulated His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and all the Kuwaiti people on the occasion of the New Year, said Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Acting Minister of Electricity and Water Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah.

Then Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled apprised the cabinet of the outcome of his participation in the recent extraordinary meeting of the Arab League Ministerial Council held in Cairo, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah said.

The Arab foreign ministers called on Turkey to pull out its forces from Iraq unconditionally, informing the UN of their decision. They also condemned the abduction of Qatari citizens in southern Iraq. Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled also gave notice of his talks with the Arab League Secretary General Nabil Al-Araby on the sidelines of the ministerial meeting. They discussed the latest developments in the Arab region.

Kuwaiti-Iraqi Committee

The Acting Prime Minister and Foreign Minister also briefed the cabinet on the outcome of the recent visit to Kuwait by Iraq's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al-Jaafari, for the 5th session of the Kuwaiti-Iraqi Joint Higher Committee. The committee discussed means of boosting bilateral ties in all fields, and signed a host of agreements to bolster cooperation.

In addition, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled notified the ministers of the outcome of the recent visit to Kuwait by Egypt's Minister of International Cooperation Sahar Nasr. Means of enhancing bilateral ties, especially investment, featured high on the agenda of talks held during the visit. He also informed the cabinet about the outcome of his talks with visiting Yemeni Foreign Minister Dr Abdulmalik Al-Mekhlafi, said Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.

The talks addressed political and security developments in the region, as Kuwait reiterated its unwavering stance on the necessity of the full application of the GCC Initiative and Implementation Mechanism, the outcome of the Yemeni national dialogue and the UN Security Council Resolution 2216, for restoring security and stability to the country. - KUNA