KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets editors-in-chief of local dailies at Bayan Palace yesterday. — KUNA

KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah yesterday reminded about the important role of the media in maintaining unity and called for managing the decline in financial revenues, respecting the judiciary and enhancing GCC integration. The Amir was speaking during a meeting at Bayan Palace yesterday with Minister of Information and State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Salem Al-Sabah, Director General of Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah, Kuwait Journalists Association board member Fatima Hussein Alissa and editors-in-chief of local daily newspapers.

The mass media have to realize the responsibility placed on them for handling the issues on the local scene, to maintain the security and stability of the nation as well as national unity. The Amir noted that media platforms must not be used to affect national unity. No opportunity must ever be offered to "whomsoever" to capitalize on the current conditions in the region and employ the media to inflame emotions, stir feuds or sectarian strife, the Amir told the meeting.

HH the Amir emphasized the necessity of keeping away from offending any of the components of the society, placing the nation's interests, security and stability over and above all considerations. He stressed the neutrality of the judicial authority, and emphasized the necessity of respecting the judiciary and the judicial rulings.

The Amir warned that due to the dramatic decline in global oil prices, Kuwait must tighten its belt financially including seriously considering steps to rationalize the state budget. He specifically mentioned the excesses of programs like the treatment abroad which is often subject to abuses. The Amir suggested that the state was looking into plans to bring doctors to Kuwait to treat citizens as opposed to sending them abroad, an expensive prospect which often includes months of travel expenses for patients and their families.

He called for joining government and popular efforts to embark on economic moves to and reduce items on the state budget to handle the decline in resources. In light of falling oil prices, from $120 per barrel to only $20 per barrel, the government and the people must share responsibility of rationalization, following in steps of other Gulf states, the Amir said, referring to an orientation to restudy subsidies on certain items. The Amir reiterated the importance of maintaining dignified life conditions for citizens, and providing their basic living needs, urging the National Assembly to "cooperate with the government for the issuance of legislations to lessen the deficit in state budget and replenish the decline in the financial resources".

The Amir also noted that subsidies would be reviewed to target the wasteful overuse of electricity for nonessential purposes like lighting up houses as if they were monuments. He stressed that any decisions taken regarding subsidy cuts or other economic steps would be made with an emphasis on maintaining a dignified life for citizens and not compromising their basic living requirements.

On the Gulf scene, the Amir said that Kuwait is part of the fabric of the GCC, underlining the necessity of pushing ahead with Gulf joint work to bolster the bloc's march toward integration in all fields to realize people's expectations, and achieve prosperity, development, security and stability. Referring to the divided neutral zone with Saudi Arabia, HH the Amir said there is no difference over it, adding that the issue of oil production and exports from the area will be settled with the kingdom soon. Meanwhile, the Amir reiterated Kuwait's commitment to the Saudi-led coalition supporting legitimacy in Yemen, referring to the effective participation of the Kuwaiti forces in the mission.

He also praised HH the Amir during the meeting brotherly relations between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states. Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah and Deputy Minister of Information Tarek Eid AlMizrem also attended the meeting.

By Abd Al-Rahman Al-Alyan

Kuwait Times Editor-in-Chief