LOCALARAB TIMES, TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017

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KUNA photoKuwait’s Permanent Delegate to the United Nations (UN) Jamal Al-Ghunaim

Arab relics’ experts meet kicks off

Is Shale oil production higher?

Kuwait puzzled over reluctanceto address Israeli HR violations

KPC allocates KD 1.3bto develop ‘gas fi elds’

GENEVA, June 19, (KUNA): A Kuwaiti diplomat on Monday said that he was be-wildered over the selective approaches taken by some nations to the issue of hu-man rights violations in Arab lands occu-pied by Israel.

Addressing the 35th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Kuwait’s Permanent Delegate to the United Nations (UN) Jamal Al-Ghunaim said that some nations’ refusal to join discussions over Israeli human rights violations is tantamount to veiled support of Israel.

Moreover, he noted that it was impera-tive to have continued dialogue over the worsening humanitarian conditions in Arab lands occupied by Israel, an issue that makes up the seventh item on the agenda of the 35th UNHRC session.

The Kuwaiti envoy underscored the need for Israel to abide by UN resolution 2334, which states that Israeli settlement activity in Palestinian territories is legally null and void.

Al-Ghunaim also spoke of Kuwait’s humanitarian obligation to support the Pal-estinian people until their aspirations for statehood and sovereignty come to fruition.

Director of Antiquities and Museums at the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, Dr Sultan Al-Deweish, af-fi rmed on Monday signifi cance of the 12th meeting of the Arab experts com-mittee for international heritage which kicked off earlier today here.

Dr Al-Deweish said in a statement to KUNA that participants in the meeting discussed the cultural heritage in the Arab states and plans to safeguard the treasures in addition to the ancient sector of the an-cient city, Jerusalem.

The conferees will discuss, during a second session scheduled tomorrow, Arab landmark ancient sites nominated to be enlisted in the international heritage — namely Al-Khalil (Hebron) town in Palestine, the Jordanian town of Al-Salt and Dubai Bay.

KUWAIT CITY, June 19: Kuwait Petroleum Corpora-tion (KPC) has allocated KD 1.3 billion from its next budget to develop gas fi elds, especially Jurassic gas fi elds at North Kuwait, which has a production capac-ity reaching up to 510 million cubic feet per day, so that they are operational by 2020, reports Al-Shahed daily quoting informed sources.

They explained that KPC is working on complet-ing short-term and long-term plans to implement the best solutions for developing Jurassic gas fi elds with the cooperation of Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) and using suitable technology in digging wells besides im-plementing risk management programs for deep wells and others to improve the performance of the produc-ing ones.

The sources indicated that Kuwait’s production of natural gas has reached 170 million cubic meters per day, affi rming that the production will increase gradu-ally this month with the start of operations of some fa-cilities that are coming into service one after the other.

They said KPC is planning to dig 12 developmental wells annually as part of its plans to develop Jurassic gas fi elds in North Kuwait that require some special type of technology and specialized manpower.

DecliningMeanwhile, Minister of Oil, Electricity and Water

Essam Al-Marzouq affi rmed the declining oil prices in the global market will refl ect negatively on the produc-tion of shale oil as well as countries where the cost of oil production is high, indicating production will drop automatically in those countries and cause oil prices to improve again, reports Al-Nahar daily.

In response to a question concerning Kuwait’s choices in dealing with problems associated with the falling oil prices and the need to stick to the contin-ual reduction in production agreement by all OPEC member countries from May 25 until March 2018, Al-Marzouq said it’s unwise to declare whether or not the agreement is a failure since it has yet to commence. He explained the agreement to extend reduction of production will start July 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018.

He noted many questions are begging for answers to understand the purpose of the aforementioned agree-ment. He wondered if excess reservoir continues to increase or decrease and if the fi gures released by sec-ondary sources affi rm abidance of the countries to low production or not.

Is the increase in production of shale oil higher than anticipated at the beginning of the year? Are the out-puts of Libya and Nigeria higher than they were earlier this year?

‘Amir’s speech comprehensive interms of nat’l, regional measures’

Lawmakers hail HH the Amir speech

By Abubakar A. Ibrahim Arab Times staff

KUWAIT CITY, June 19: Lawmakers hailed the speech that His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Jabber Al-Sa-bah delivered Sunday on the occasion of the last 10 days of Ramadan.

National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim pointed out the Amir’s speech is comprehen-sive as it included priorities in terms of national and regional measures.

He said the Amir called on every-one to work towards Gulf cohesion, combating terrorism, addressing Kuwaiti diplomacy challenges in view of the country’s membership to the United Nations Security Council, cooperation between the executive and legislative authorities, and empowering the people especially the youths as they considered the corner-stone of development.

He added the Amir was resolute and decisive when he delved into Gulf relations and the need to heal any rift that might affect the Gulf region, combat terrorism and deal with its disastrous effects on countries in the region.

He disclosed the Amir also focused on the relationship between the execu-tive and legislative authorities,

Members travelling on vacation

Parliament’s probe panels to freeze activitiesKUWAIT CITY, June 19: Parliament’s investigation commit-tees will freeze their activities during the summer season because many of their members are travelling, which will in turn result in lack of quorum as well as unavailability of the indi-viduals they will be investigating, reports Al-Shahed daily quoting

sources. They said these committees include the committee for investi-gating the disappearance of contain-ers.

The sources revealed that the par-liament had agreed on extension of the committee’s work period to the beginning of the next legislative term, indicating that the committee

was closer to completing its report.They explained that the

Parliament also agreed to extend the work term of the committee, which is investigating the irregularities in Ministry of Health, to the next leg-islative term because of its inability to complete its report during the summer season.

emphasizing the need for their coop-eration to ensure political stability and national unity.

While talking about the political and security challenges, the Amir highlighted as well the development issues and the role of youths in main-taining stability and nation-building because these are the goals of good governance in any successful nation, the speaker said.

The speaker then called on every-one to strictly comply with the direc-tives of the Amir.

On the other hand, MP Thamer Al-Sumait asserted that the speech included a youth action program; spe-cifically the empowerment of youths, intellectual rights protection and a comprehensive view of development and security concepts.

He said the Amir expressed the desire of all Kuwaitis in addressing controversies and healing rifts in light

of the recent developments in the rela-tionship of Gulf brothers.

He also urged everybody to adhere with the instructions of the Amir to maintain national unity and fight against terrorism and extremism. He asked the government to realize the vision of His Highness in investing in youths and protecting them from extremist thought.

He added the Amir set a road map for the work of the government and the Parliament when he talked about the need to complete economic and other files that the people of Kuwait have been waiting for a long time.

MP Askar Al-Anazi praised the valuable contents of the speech; espe-cially on the stability of Kuwait, unity of the Gulf region and the fight against terrorism.

In another development, member of the Interior and Defense Committee which has been tasked to investigate

citizenship forgery MP Salah Khursheed said they will soon invite the speaker to look into the informa-tion he has on the issue.

He explained the meeting, which was supposed to take place during Ramadan, was postponed until after Eid Al-Fitr because the speaker trav-eled for Umrah. He added the meeting with the speaker will be followed by that of Interior Minister Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah to discuss the issue. He said the committee will ask the ministry about the citizenship forgery cases published by the media and those mentioned during the ses-sion on the amendment of the Administrative Court Law.

He revealed the committee will meet immediately after Eid Al-Fitr to finalize deliberations on the bills in its agenda and resume work as a com-mission of inquiry into the forgery of nationality.

Offi cial transactions in visitors’ halls only: As-sistant Undersecretary for Administration Af-fairs at Ministry of Education Fahad Al-Ghais has sent an administrative circular to the human resources director and supervisors, instructing that the submission and handover of offi cial transactions should be done in visitors’ halls only, reports Al-Qabas daily.

According to the circular, this decision is in line with the framework of the administrative sector to ensure transactions are completed on time. It also contributes to audit and fi nalization of transactions without any delays.

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PAHW cancels 270 housing grants: At a time that nearly 200 citizens applied for housing allo-cation in Khaitan residential buildings, the Pub-lic Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) can-celled 270 housing grant applications submitted from 1985 to 1988 and added 97 applications submitted from January this year until the fi rst week of June, reports Al-Qabas daily.

A statistical report released by the PAHW re-vealed that the highest number of suspensions and cancellations was recorded in 1994 — a total of 68 transactions, whereas the number of similar transactions during other years ranged from 1 to 48.

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