KUWAIT CITY, July 9, (KUNA): National Assembly Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi called on the Kuwaiti government to take steps to put in place recently passed national development blueprints and projects.
Exclusively interviewed by Kuwait Satellite Channel late Thursday, Al-Khorafi said the governmental duties of development programs and projects would be a high topic on the agenda of the next parliamentary session. The Parliament has done its job by unanimously passing the development drive, so the government is required to do its duty by putting it in force, he said. “Otherwise, it (the government) will be in a difficult situation, and will consequently bear its responsibility,” he admonished.
He recognized that the relationship between the Assembly and the government was tensed in the last parliamentary session due to interpellations, grilling and no-confidence motions. However, he said there were no serious problems as everyone was given the opportunity to speak out freely, eventually leading to fruitful and constructive criticism.
Interpellations
Al-Khorafi believes that the interpellations are not the sole approach to resolve outstanding issues between the Assembly and the government. Asked why there were repeated interpellations against His Highness the Prime Minister, he said, “Should His Highness the Premier face the queries from the very beginning, there would not be repeated interpellations. Well, interpellations are a supervisory tool, but, regrettably, they were marred due to the way used and press treatment.”
Asked why the government requested closed-door debates of the interpellation motions, the Speaker said, “It is a democratic practice that gives the Speaker, government and ten members of Parliament the right to ask for holding closed-door sittings.” In this context, he voiced hope that grilling and no-confidence motions would be discussed in closed-door sessions, given that, as he put it, grilling became a tool of threatening and intimidation used by some deputies. “Secrecy gives deputies the opportunity to speak out freely,” he argued.
Responding to an allegation that the last parliamentary session was marred by verbal wars among different members, the Speaker said, “We should not give a general judgment. Such incidents, if there, were very limited. Many deputies kept themselves away from such quarrels, and, on the contrary, exerted reconciliatory efforts.”
Asked how he could fend off such troubles in the next debates, he said the Speaker wields limited power and competence to deal with such incidents, as he can just adjourn the session for a certain period of time or permanently. However, he said the Assembly’s regulations include a series of measures that can be taken against trouble-makers, such as warning and finally expulsion from the hall, but, he said, this can be done only in case of majority approval. Therefore, he wished that the Speaker could be given more power so that he could face such cases in a decisive manner.
Asked if he feels that Kuwaiti citizens are concerned over democracy in the country, the Speaker responded in the affirmative, warning that “should we fail to maintain and respect democracy, there will be negative reactions.” In this context, he wondered, “This Assembly is the outgrowth of choice of citizens, who express dismay at its performance, isn’t it?” Therefore, he called for raising public awareness of the electoral process as, according to him, the relationship between the voter and the candidate in the country is either personal, tribal or communal.
He stressed the significance of capitalizing on parliamentary media and mass media in general in promoting positive remarks and orientations, but staving off troubles that could spark more differences and disagreements among the individuals of the society.
Opportunities
“More opportunities should be given for societal integration by one way or another through future political organizations. There should be a political organization or parties,” he requested. He went on to say, “To become perfect, democracy is lacking in political organization. Now, we have 50 deputies, ie 50 party organizations.”
The Speaker could not keep concerns that there are some groups seeking to disfigure democracy in Kuwait through malpractices and misbehaviors, without naming anyone in particular. However, he expressed confidence that the current Assembly would not be resolved, rebuffing allegations by some about “constitutional or unconstitutional dissolutions.” He even quoted His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as wishing that the current Parliament would continue its legislative term.
Potential
Concerning a potential passing of a bill on bedoun or stateless people’s rights, he hailed the good role played by the Assembly in this respect, but said that “there should be a differentiation between those who really deserve to get Kuwaiti nationality and those who don’t.” He added that through its parliamentary committee on bedoun, the Assembly could resolve many humanitarian aspects of this societal category, including medical treatment, education, employment and marriage and birth certificates.
On the sports problem, Al-Khorafi said, “The issue is in safe hands.” He expressed confidence that it could be drastically tackled by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor through the application of the law. “The sports problem in Kuwait is a problem of laws, no more no less,” he said, calling for giving the minister concerned the opportunity to apply relevant laws and to put an end to sports problems. Laws and legislations should be set for the public interest, rather than according to the wishes of some citizens or the so-called “political blocs” which did not exist before and whose representation is even unknown, he said.
Meanwhile, the Speaker, defending the government, said, “Our government is not the government of a hostile country. It is part of us ... but, this does not mean that there are no mistakes made by the government. This can be tackled by following the (correct) procedures that could lead us to the aspired end by working with the government members, rather than by waging wars with them, which could eventually throw the country into turmoil.” Article 50 of the Constitution urges the government and the Assembly to work together for the national interest of the country, he said. “Everyone works for Kuwait’s interest, and there is much criticism pressed against the government.” He cautioned against lampooning or insulting others, saying that there should be constructive and fruitful dialogue based on mutual respect, regardless of ensuing differences and divergent views.
He also stressed the necessity of maintaining and safeguarding morality and values in order to ensure well-mannered generations to come. Asked how to spare Kuwait the perils and risks of communalism and sectarianism in the future, he said, “Communalism and sectarianism are two fertile fields for sedition and tension. In a tiny society like Kuwait, sedition is a danger and a serious cancer.”
On a call by an MP for constitutional change, he said, “It is the right of MPs to express views and take moves in this respect, while the other side can accept or dismiss it.” He went on to say, “The Constitution is not a holy book. It is open to change. Ideological terrorism is over, and so is muscle-flexing practice.
Behaviors
True democracy requires correct behaviors.” On an Amiri desire to transform Kuwait into a regional trade and financial hub, he said it is the responsibility of several ministries to take concrete steps to turn such a desire into reality. This, he maintained, requires coordinated procedures involving state departments and agencies in the hope of getting rid of red-tape and bureaucracy.
On his assessment of female members of Parliament, Al-Khorafi said, “I think they have done a good job in view of presence in the Assembly and attendance of different committees’ meetings and their effort at such committees.” However, he blasted them for failing to work together properly, possibly due to inexperience in parliamentary activities or lack of a political organization that can bring them together. He hailed their great effort in the draft law on women’s rights.
Concerning Gulf issues, including a single Gulf currency, Al-Khorafi said he is zealous about a planned single Gulf currency and every move that could prop up Gulf integration “through carefully considered steps.” He believed that the Gulf region would be stronger and firmer in face of the surrounding regional conditions through a single currency, regulated trade and opened borders. In this context, he hoped that the Gulf leaders would not be extremely alarmed at the financial crisis in the European Union (EU) member states due to their single currency “euro”, calling for learning the lesson from others and avoiding others’ blunders.
Circumstances
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states are required to take more steps to tackle the current circumstances in the Gulf region as a united group, rather than individual countries, he added. Asked about US-Iranian differences, the Speaker said, “I do believe that the difference is not between the US and Iran, but between the US-led West and Iran. But, this can be resolved by dialogue not by flexing muscles and threatening. The Islamic Republic of Iran has its own dignity and sovereignty. If others have views on how to tackle the Iranian nuclear program, then this should be done through dialogue. But, threats of attacking or boycotting Iran are nonsense,” he opined.
Hailing a recent deal between Iran, Turkey and Brazil on Tehran’s controversial nuclear program, he said, “It has resolved a large part of the problem. So, why should not such dialogue continue?” He emphasized that a State’s issue should be tackled through the principle of respecting others and considering the privacy of every country. However, he called on those countries which talk about Iran’s nuclear program to do the same vis-a-vis the Israeli nuclear one. In spite of the current volatile developments of Palestine, Iran and Iraq, he said, “I’m still optimistic.”
Rapping the Arab League for failing to find solutions to the current issues facing Arab countries, mainly inter-Palestinian differences, he said, “I think the Arab League is not playing its due role.”
But, in conclusion, he wondered, “What is the alternative to the league? At least there is a place where Arab countries can come together and do as much as they could. It is better than never.”