KUWAIT CITY, Nov 13, (KUNA): His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah stressed here Sunday that Kuwait’s National Constitution was the real guarantee for the country’s political system, and the main pillar of national security.
In a speech, delivered on his behalf by Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Ali Al-Rashed to kick off ceremonies to mark 50 years since the Kuwaiti Constitu-tion was promulgated, HH the Amir said the Constitution’s provisions ensure the democratic approach to maintain national cohesion, and its principles provide freedom and democracy, paving the way for building, education and chalking achievement in order to buttress the constituents of the State, to strengthen it and to unify its ranks.
“While marking this dear occasion, we have to remember with appreciation and pride our ancestors who had worked out this genuine and solid guarantee (Constitution) and spared us what we are now witnessing in our Arab surroundings,” he said.
“This means that those who wrote the Constitution had a farsighted vision that established the democratic approach to become a spontaneous method and cultural characteristic of our Kuwaiti society,” he added.
The Constitution has ensured the dividing lines among authorities and has given the legislative authority its prestige in order to continuously and proudly carry on its supervisory role in the realization of reforms, he added.
It has also laid down the basics of consolidating and reactivating required cooperation between the legislative and executive bodies in a framework of friendly and brotherly dialogue based on mutual respect and discipline with a view to keeping on the national action march in pushing up development in various domains, and living up to the expectations and hopes of the citizens for a safe present and bright future, HH the Amir added.
For 50 years now, the Constitution has been governing the laws of the State and even diverse aspects of life, and establishing the democratic approach, in which the Kuwaiti leadership and people believe, he affirmed.
The Constitution reflected a desire for a complete democracy in the nation, to keep up with Arab nationalism and to serve world peace and human civilization, Sheikh Sabah opined.
It also targeted a better future where the nation could enjoy more prosperity and international recognition and the people could have more political freedom, equity and social justice, he said, adding that it had also ensured individual dignity, societal interest, governance advisory, maintained national security and stability.
Furthermore, the Constitution has consecrated Kuwait’s deep-rooted principles and values, which are based on the fact that the ruling system is democratic, sovereignty belongs to Ummah (the nation), which is the source of all authority.
Justice, freedom and equity are the pillars of the society, while the State provides security, safety and equal opportunities to all citizens, and ensures that all people are equal in the eyes of regardless of gender, origin, language and religion, Sheikh Sabah pointed out.
Kuwaiti democracy has embodied one of the key aspects of civilization; belief in women’s freedom, right of expression, right of work, empowerment and vital role in the building of the society, he said, adding that Kuwaiti women had preceded many women in the region in gaining access to their political, social and economic rights and sharing with men in shouldering responsibility.
As per the Constitution, everybody is required to act to keep the essence of democracy bright and clean, and to ensure that democratic practice, from all aspects, is a model for others to follow, he said. All this can be attained only through serious abidance by constitutional provisions, reasoning, spirit of responsibility, constructive dialogue, and fruitful cooperation, along with belief in national unity as a source of strength, he advised.
Sheikh Sabah reiterated his unshakeable belief in the Constitution, saying that constitutional tools are enough for resolving all issues and avoiding chaos in the country.
Given local, regional and international circumstances, along with global economic and financial crises, the nation’s supreme interests should be given a top priority. While a fresh parliamentary stage of action is imminent, more cooperation is required in order to make more achievements that could fulfill the expectations and hopes of all citizens and upgrade the position of Kuwait, he concluded.