KUWAIT: His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah chairs the cabinet’s meeting yesterday. —KUNA

KUWAIT: The Cabinet has deeply regretted the International Olympic Committee (IOC)'s deprivation of Kuwaiti athletes from representing their country in Rio Olympic Games. The IOC's suspension of Kuwaiti sports has deprived Kuwaiti athletes from vying with their international peers and representing their country in this important international sports event, the Cabinet regretted in a statement following its weekly meeting yesterday, chaired by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. It, however, vowed that the reforms started by the government would not stop despite the offenses and obstacles facing the Kuwaiti sports.

The Cabinet urged all relevant Kuwaiti institutions and individuals to close ranks and to prioritize the state interests over any personal interests. It also called for concerted efforts and cooperation for the development of sports movement in Kuwait. It added that all necessary measures would be taken by relevant authorities to defend Kuwait's standing.

During the meeting, Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Humoud Al-Sabah briefed the cabinet about the Kuwait's absence from Rio Olympic Games due to the IOC's suspension of Kuwaiti sports.

The minister pointed out that the IOC has rebuffed several Kuwaiti demands to lift the suspension and allow Kuwaiti athletes to play under their country's flag in Rio Olympic Games. He noted that Kuwait has exerted relentless efforts to lift the suspension but in vain.

The latest attempt was made by a number of Kuwaiti athletes and sports federations when they filed a lawsuit against the IOC's decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. But, due to the insistence of the representative of Kuwait's Olympic Committee (on the suspension), the court upheld it, he said.

The minister stated that though Kuwait's Public Authority for Sports respects the Olympic Charter which allows qualified athletes to compete as Independent Olympic Athletes (IOA) under the Olympic flag, it would only support athletes who compete under the Kuwaiti flag.

Homeland security

The Cabinet expressed its pride for strenuous efforts exerted by security men, mainly Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, aiming to maintain security of the homeland, citizens and residents.

This stresses that the Kuwaiti society is rejecting the 'abnormal acts' which run counter to Islam and the country's values, the Cabinet said during the meeting. The Cabinet affirmed its resolve to deter everyone seeking to tamper with security and stability of the dear homeland, urging all people to intensify cooperation with security apparatuses to combat any attempt aiming to undermine the country's security.

Afterwards, the ministers listened to a detailed presentation made by Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Sabah on the efforts that lead to the arrest of a woman belonging to the so-called Islamic State, which has been designated as a terrorist group. The woman was planning to commit a 'terrorist act' so as to undermine security and stability of Kuwait, he said.

The minister noted that the security apparatuses managed to monitor an electronic account run by the accused who entered the country last June. He added that she communicated with the IS in a certain country through using some tools, affirming that security men are able to uncover terror cells and monitor any 'terrorist' plots. He stressed that security personnel will keep a watchful eye on the security and safety of the country and its citizens.

The Cabinet also denounced a machete terrorist attack in Charleroi center in the Belgian capital Brussels, which injured two policewomen. The Cabinet renewed calls for the international community to ramp up efforts to exterminate terrorism in all of its forms, underscoring Kuwait's support of all anti-terrorism measures.

On Saturday, two female police officers were wounded when a machete-wielding man, who was later identified as an Algerian national, attacked them before being shot by police. Belgium has seen a spate of terrorist attacks as of late, claimed by the so-called Islamic State (IS). On March 22, twin suicide explosions rocked Brussels' airport and metro, leaving 32 people dead.

Development report

Meanwhile, the Cabinet examined a report of the Q1 annual scheme (2016-2017), listened to a presentation by the Minister of Social Affairs, Labor and Minister of State for Planning and Development Dr Hind Al-Subaih, where she shed light on a number of planned ventures and policies regarding economic and administrative development.

The report includes projects in the oil, health, teaching and infrastructural sectors and recommendations regarding follow-up on implementation of the annual plan 2016-2017. The Cabinet expressed appreciation for the efforts that have been exerted at this level, namely with respect of preparing the report.

The Cabinet also reviewed a recommendation by the economic affairs commission regarding the technical report presented by the team tasked with studying prospected investment and management of Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital. It decided to task the Public Investment Authority, in coordination with the ministries of finance and health, Fatwa and Legislation department and the Supreme Council for Planning and Development, to study a relevant proposal and present proposals in this respect.

Letters to Amir

Following the session, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah stated that the session got underway by examining a message addressed to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah from Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, inviting His Highness to attend the Seventh Summit of Presidents of member States and Governments of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), due on Margarita island, under the theme, "Peace, Sovereignty, Solidarity for Development."

The ministers were briefed about another message from the United Nations Secretary General Assistant and the executive chief of the UN women affairs commission, inviting His Highness to attend a scheduled ceremony for the UN Young Women Initiative, due in New York in September. Another one from the Bulgarian president dealt with the distinctive ties bonding that the two friendly countries.

They also reviewed a message to His Highness the Prime Minister from the former US president Bill Clinton including an invitation to Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah to attend the annual ceremony of the Clinton Global Initiative due in New York in September.

In the meantime, the Cabinet expressed its sincere condolences to Egyptian President Abdelfatah Al-Sisi over the passing away of Dr Ahmad Zuwail, who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1999. The Cabinet extolled Zuwail's valuable achievements chalked up for humanity and societies, and his strenuous efforts in raising the status of Egypt and the Arab country on international arenas. The ministers, meanwhile, discussed political affairs in light of relevant reports on the current developments on Arab and international levels. - KUNA