No sustainable development in absence of peace: Kuwait MP

GENEVA: National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Ali Al-Ghanem speaks at the 138th Inter- Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, yesterday. — KUNA

GENEVA: At the time when several countries neglected the tragedy of the Syrian refugees, Kuwait, upon directives by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, assumed the responsibility of the file and raised the alarm about it, said National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Ali Al-Ghanem. He made that statement yesterday at the 138th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.

He also stressed that the Palestinian cause would not be imprescriptible, and that the "enemy that defeated them must remember the logic of history and its movement." Many countries, with deep legacy of democracy and rights, took long years to pay attention to the refugees' tragedy that erupted in 2011, Ghanem said, referring to Kuwait's initial stance on the issue since the very outset, embodied in a policy of humanitarian intervention. The Kuwaiti stance was prompted by the policy set by His Highness the Amir, of "no political, military or intelligence involvement in the tragic file," the chief parliamentarian stressed.

Pledging Conferences

Ghanem referred to the First, Second and Third International Humanitarian Pledging Conferences for Syria, which Kuwait hosted in 2013, 2014 and 2015, and the Kuwaiti-Swedish draft resolution at the UNSC on a ceasefire in Syria's Eastern Ghouta, saying Kuwait has always raised the alarm about the "painful" issue. He said that despite the efforts by various parties, in particular the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), "It is my duty to say that what has been don is inadequate to guarantee no rise in the number of refugees inadequate to assist (Syria's) neighboring countries to shoulder the burden of the file." Then Ghanem moved to the Palestinian refugees' dilemma that has persisted over 70 years, amid negligence and marginalization of the calamity. The Palestinian file has been aggravating since the Zionists' usurpation of Palestinian territories in 1948, amid arrogance and intransigence on the side of the usurper, he said.

Over the years, Palestinians have been exposed to massacres and forced migration, he said noting that Palestinians form up to 5.5 million of the world's 22 million refugees. Ghanem concluded his statement warning "the usurper" that Arabs and Palestinians will not turn into an "Anthropology lesson" and that "what you believe is a dream will turn to a nightmare."

Sustainable development

Meanwhile, Kuwaiti MP Al-Humaidi Al-Subaiee said that sustainable development is unattainable worldwide without peace. Addressing a session by the first permanent commission tasked with global peace and security-affiliated to the IPU - he said the issue of development cannot be raised in the shadow of lack of peace. He called on the international community to seek to secure security and food to nations stricken with crises.

The IPU must play a part to ensure literal implementation of UN resolutions, he said, also objecting to states' intervention in other countries' affairs for certain political and strategic goals. He also urged wealthy nations to help poor peoples to boost their development.

Alternative energy

In the meantime, the commission for sustainable development, financing and commerce, affiliated with the IPU resumed debates on a draft resolution regarding alternative energy. Dr Khalil Abul, member of the Kuwaiti parliamentary caucus, said in a statement that the member states presented proposals for inclusion in the planned resolution. Kuwait, in its forwarded paper, urged the other participating lawmakers to seek to persuade their governments, through sovereign funds, to invest in alternative energy's companies and enterprises.

Abul added that he suggested to the fellow legislators that their government allocate part of the armament and defense budgets for sustainable development particularly with respect of developing the alternative energy. Abul is part of a Kuwaiti parliamentary delegation, headed by Ghanem, that arrived in Geneva on Wednesday to partake in the IPU 138th conference, due to proceed till March 28. - KUNA