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

KUWAIT: The Kuwaiti Cabinet has called on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to intervene promptly and stop the "genocides perpetrated against the Syrian people." The cabinet, during its customary weekly meeting yesterday, also expressed gratitude to all those who have contributed to the relief campaigns for Syria, voiced relief at improvement of His Highness the Amir's health, condemned the terrorist attack in Jordan, the latest bombing in Turkey, congratulated Qatar on the National Day and Lebanon on the new government.

In a statement after the weekly session, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah stated that the ministers affirmed solidarity of the Kuwaiti people behind the sagacious leadership in facing injustice and the approach to end the hardships suffered by the Syrian people.

The Cabinet, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah said, called on the UN Security Council to intervene immediately to halt the "genocides perpetrated against the Syrian people." He stated, "The Cabinet has followed up with deep concern on the regretful situation in the Syrian city of Aleppo, condemning the brutal operations and the massacres committed by the regime against the unarmed residents and the innocents.

"The Cabinet expresses gratitude to the faithful Kuwaiti people for interacting with the fundraising campaigns, undertaken by the Ministry of Information, Kuwait Red Crescent Society and relief societies, as a contribution to ending the injustice suffered by the brotherly Syrian people.

"The Cabinet affirms necessity of the Kuwaiti people's solidarity, bolstering national unity and standing in one line behind the wise leadership in facing the injustice and the hardships of the Syrian people .. and the Council urges the Security Council to intervene immediately to halt the genocides against the brotherly Syrian people."

At start of the session, Minister Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah said, the ministers expressed relief at improvement of His Highness the Amir's health following the setback he suffered last week, imploring His Almighty to bestow upon him lasting health and long life so he may continue serving the country.

Sustainable development

The Cabinet examined the government action plan for the 15th legislative term (2016-2017 and 2019-2020), themed "toward sustainable development." They were briefed by Minister of Social Affairs and Labor and Minister of State for Economic Affairs Hind Al-Subaih, who explained that the program was worked out in light of His Highness the Amir's Address at the parliament inauguration session. She noted that the government action plan is in harmony with sustainable development objectives, endorsed by the UN General Assembly for the coming 15 years.

Priorities outlined in the scheme, the minister said, include public finance sustainability, privatization program, role of the private sector, developing small and medium enterprise, organizing the labor market, setting up a social security system, revamping education, health services, infrastructure, informatics, communication, economic know-how, corporate governance, environment and renewable energy.

This strategy is to be executed, Minister Subaih added, in light of regional and international circumstances. Moreover, the government will carry out full-scale reform schemes. Such an approach would require cooperation on part of the National Assembly, and the other "partners" in the development process; namely public and private entities and NGOs.

Letters to Amir

The ministers, in the beginning of the session, examined letters addressed to His Highness the Amir from the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on his mandate's conclusion, expressing deep gratitude to the State of Kuwait for boosting the "partnership" with the international organization. Ban, in the second message, expressed eagerness to see greater role by Kuwait in technological sector.

They also examined a message to His Highness from the Australian premier, expressing desire to bolster ties and lauding the Government of Kuwait's donation to building a mosque and a center after the name of the late Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in Australian capital. They were briefed about a message from the Jordanian king to His Highness the Premier, inviting His Highness to partake in the world economic forum due in the Dead Sea in May, 2017.

Meanwhile, First Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah informed the executives about the talks he held with the British Minister of Middle East and North African Affairs Tobias Ellwood during the latter's visit to the country-during which an agreement was for criminals' extradition was inked.

The Cabinet condemned the terrorist attack in Karak, Jordan, the bombing that targeted military troops in Turkey, congratulated Qatar on the National Day and Lebanon on forming a new government.-KUNA