Embassy of the Republic of Korea to the State of Kuwait

Thursday/ 12 May, 2016

External Affairs

His Highness Kuwait's PM departs Seoul, heading to Tokyo
His Highness the Premier Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and his accompanying delegation departed South Korea on Wednesday and headed to Tokyo after the conclusion of his three-day official visit as part of an Asian tour. (All Newspapers)

S. Korea grateful for Kuwait hosting Yemeni peace talks
South Korea thanked on Wednesday Kuwait for hosting the current peace talks between the conflicting parties in Yemen which had started last April 21. This came out in a joint statement at the conclusion of the visit of Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah to South Korea. The joint statement expressed the two countries' concern over turbulent Middle East crises such as those in Iraq and Syria and vowed continuing bilateral consultations regarding these and other relative issues. Further, the two sides agreed to boost their cooperation on issues of international peace and order within the UN and other world organizations and to expand bilateral visitations by the two nation's lawmakers. The Kuwaiti side expressed its thanks to S. Korea for its efforts at furthering world peace and security, recalling its contribution to the liberation of Kuwait in 1990 by having sent South Korean troops to come to the aid of Kuwait. (All Newspapers)

Kerry's top aide grateful to Kuwait for hosting Yemen talks
One of US Secretary of State John Kerry's top advisers has expressed his gratitude to Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah for hosting the Yemen peace talks while on a visit to meet the UN Special Envoy to Yemen, State Department Spokesperson Elizabeth Trudeau told reporters Wednesday. Undersecretary for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon met with Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed in Kuwait to discuss the status of the talks, and "how the US can help end the conflict in Yemen to best continue to support a return to a peaceful, political transition," Trudeau said. (All Newspapers)

Interpol requests arresting Hamad Al- Haroun
International Police (Interpol) sent an official circular by name and photograph requesting arresting the Kuwaiti citizen Hamad Al – Haroun as a fugitive from justice and in order to implement judicial sentences issued against him. The Interpol decision of putting Al- Haroun’s name on the list of “Internationally Wanted” came upon a request from Kuwait, after Al – Haroun departed the country using a fake passport, after being involved in many cases inside Kuwait and number of other countries as well. Al- Haroun fled from Kuwait last March 2015 using a fake ID through Al –Nuwaisib border port, as he moved from Saudi to Dubai before he left to London. (Al Rai)

Domestic Affairs

National Assembly approves proposed legislation on granting citizenship
National Assembly approved, on Wednesday's subsidiary session, a proposed legislation on determining the number of people of illegal residence who should be granted the Kuwaiti citizenship. "The number of people who should be given the Kuwaiti citizenship should not exceed 4,000 for 2016, in accordance of Amiri decree 15/1959," a report by the Interior and Defence parliamentary committee said. The Government will make an effort to find a solution for the illegal residents' situation in the country, according to the law and the constitution, Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah stressed. (All Newspapers)

Acting Premier receives U.S. senior official
Acting Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah received U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas A. Shannon, at Bayan Palace on Wednesday, where they discussed bilateral ties. (All Newspapers)

Sub-committees of Yemeni peace talks conclude discussions in Kuwait
Yemen's subcommittees dealing with UN-sponsored peace talks concluded their discussions Wednesday, on issues ranging from a political solution to the conflict, security and the plight of prisoners and detainees. The committee dealing with the issue of prisoners and detainees discussed proposals of the release or exchange of prisoners, in a gesture of goodwill. Moreover, the subcommittees have agreed to form local committees representing the warring sides, tasked with uncovering the number and fates of those detained, sources monitoring the talks told KUNA. (All Newspapers)

MPs OK sports clubs' bill
The National Assembly on Wednesday unanimously gave the thumbs up to a draft law on financial support to sports clubs in the first and second deliberations, and sent it to the government for final approval. During the parliamentary session held today, Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah said the law aimed at saving public spending and regulating the clubs' financial support process according to their sports activities. He said the government had tabled a bill purposed to provide sports clubs with KD 500,000 (USD 1.6 million) annually, noting that however, it agreed to raise the sum to KD 750,000 (USD 2.4 million). (All Newspapers)

Economy

Kuwait oil price down USD 1.29, aettles at USD 38.25 pb
Kuwait oil price went down USD 1.29 on Tuesday, reaching USD 38.25 per barrel (pb) against USD 39.54 pb last Sunday, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) said Wednesday. (All Newspapers)

S. Korea, Kuwait views on importance of world oil price stability "identical"…Korean-Kuwaiti Partnership for applying Kuwait’s vision 2035
Kuwait and South Korea expressed on Wednesday identical views on the significance of world oil price stability. The remarks came during a joint statement at the conclusion of His Highness the Premier's visit to South Korea from May 8-11. The South Korean side also expressed appreciation and satisfaction over Kuwait's keenness of ensuring oil supply, hoping that such bilateral cooperation continue in the oil and natural gas sectors, among other economic fields, including energy and industry, due to their vital importance. During the visit, Kuwait briefed the South Korean side on its vision and efforts to energize Kuwait's economic and diversify its resources, including a briefing on Kuwait's short-term development plan of 2020 and long-term development of 2035, hoping that the two sides play a decisive role in contributing to such plans, particularly in science and technology fields. The two sides welcomed distinct achievements in economic forums between the State of Kuwait and the Republic of Korea, which were held first in March 2015, and on November 2015, where the two sides agreed on the need for continuing holding similar forums that provide many favorable opportunities for the private sector of both countries, due to their valuable communication and discussion factors in joint economic, trade and investment areas. The two sides also stressed that joint committee headed by the ministers of Finance of both countries is considered the basic tool and the best way to develop relations and push them forward into wider horizons, and agreed to develop them as means of cooperation between the two countries. The two sides agreed, in this regard, to ensure a second Korean-Kuwaiti Committee to take place in the near future to follow up the work of the first joint commission held on March 2007. The two sides also stressed the importance of increasing and developing bilateral trade and mutual investment and to achieve common interests of both nations. The two sides agreed to make efforts to increase investment volume, noting that Kuwait has worked on the development of laws and procedures that will attract foreign investment and modify existing tax laws to help out foreign investors significantly. For their part, the South Korean sides emphasized its commitment in providing optimal conditions for foreign investment, and make more efforts to provide a suitable environment for commercial transactions. The two sides also expressed willingness to expand prospects for cooperation in a number of cultural, educational and health-related fields. The two sides reaffirmed the need to encourage dialogue between the two countries in trade, investment and economic policies. The South Korean side also noted the important role of GCC countries in the stability of global economies, expressing satisfaction over being an important trade partner to them. Meanwhile, both sides hailed the increasing cooperation, especially in building new cities, and in recognizing the strategic importance of energy sector and the role they play in order to achieve economic and social development. (All Newspapers)

100 to 150% increase in State plots rent…applying to start next April
Within in the plan of Ministry of Finance to increase public revenues collected from State property, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Anas Al Saleh issued a ministerial decree Al Anbaa acquired a copy of, includes increasing rent  for the State-owned private real estate property and the fees of the services related to it. According to the decree, the new regulation will be applied starting from beginning of April 2017. According to the new regulation, State-owned real estate property rent witnessed increase of 100% to 150% which came according to studies conducted by Ministry of Finance according to official sources in the Ministry. The list included two categories for State-owned property plots, the first one included plots and markets while the second one included development projects and it put the increase ratio of the rent according to location and the utilized surface area. (Al Anbaa)

Planning: Clean Fuel to provide 1200 job opportunities
Assistant Secretary-General for the following up department in Supreme Council for Planning and Development Iman Al- Mutairi revealed that “Clean Fuel” project affiliated to Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) will provide 1200 job opportunities. Al – Mutairi pointed out that the total cost of the project is estimated to be 4.6 billion KD, while its monthly development revenues estimated to be 50 million USD, and that almost 50% of the project works were achieved. (All Newspapers)

[Reference]

KUNA: http://www.kuna.net.kw/Default.aspx?language=en

Al Rai: http://www.alraimedia.com/

Kuwait Times: http://www.news.kuwaittimes.net/website/

Arab Times: http://www.arabtimesonline.com/news/

MEED: http://www.meed.com/

Al Anbaa: http://www.alanba.com.kw/newspaper/