MPs push ICC probe for Syria crimes

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KUWAIT CITY, Dec 28: Kuwaiti lawmakers have urged Kuwait Foreign Ministry to lead diplomatic efforts to pass a UN Security Council resolution referring war crimes in Syria to International Criminal Court’s General Prosecutor under UN’s Charter VII. The Foreign Ministry has to embark on diplomatic drive to pass a UNSC resolution to refer the genocides and other crimes against humanity in Syria to the ICC’s General Prosecutor, the MPs said in a statement after a special parliamentary session held Tuesday on the deteriorating situation in Syria in general and Aleppo in particular.

They urged the Interior Ministry to facilitate family visa issuance for Syrian expatriates who want to bring their family members to join them in Kuwait. They called on the Ministry of Health to cooperate with the Kuwait Red Crescent Society to increase medical assistance to Syrian refugees in the Syria’s neighboring countries.

The disgruntled lawmakers demanded Kuwaiti, Arab and Muslim governments to shoulder their responsibility towards the protection of the helpless people of Syria. They strongly condemned the continued aggression on Syria and the brutal bombardment of Aleppo and its innocent people.

They expressed dismay about the strange silence and inaction of regional and international organizations in face of the barbaric assaults, savage crimes and the appalling humanitarian catastrophe in Syria. The MPs called on the world to act swiftly to bring to a halt the bloodshed in the war-torn Arab country and to stop foreign sectarian and terrorist militias as well as all covert and overt foreign interferences in Syria and to impose a nationwide ceasefire and to allow unimpeded relief aid access to besieged areas. In their statement, the lawmakers underlined the importance of serious international efforts, leaded by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League, to pave the way for a political solution that to retain the territorial integrity of Syria and allow its people to choose their leaders freely. They also called for setting a clear timetable for the return of displaced people to their homes and rebuilding the pulverized cities after the end of the conflict. They asked the regional and international organizations to reject and do all in power to stop crimes committed against Syria people. In their speeches at the session, the lawmakers commended Kuwait’s response to Aleppo tragedy.

They also spoke highly about His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- Jaber Al-Sabah’s initiatives to host three international conferences for Syria donors and to ease the suffering war-traumatized Syrian people. The Parliament on Wednesday elected MPs Ali Daqbasi, Khali Al- Otaibi, Waleed Al-Tabtabaie and Askar Al-Anazi as its representatives in the Arab Parliament. Article Three of the Basic Rule of Arab Parliament states that each member- State shall have four representatives, taking into account the representation of women. Meanwhile, the Parliament approved the request to assign the Education, Culture and Guidance Affairs Committee to investigate various issues in the educational sector like the fake academic certificates and alleged leakage of answers to secondary school exam questions, as well as the scholarships and appointments in Kuwait University and Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET).

The committee has been instructed to submit its report within three months. During deliberations on the request, Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Mohammed Al-Faris confirmed support for the committee in investigating such issues, saying he is ready to cooperate with the committee. The Parliament also approved the request to form a temporary committee for agriculture, fish and animal resources with MPs Khalil Al-Saleh, Hamdan Al-Azmi, Khalil Abdullah Aboul, Mohammed Mirwe Al-Hadiya and Mohammed Al-Huwailah as members.

In the meantime, the legislature tackled the Amiri address and called on the government to actualize the visions of his Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on security, safety and national wealth; especially since the country “has the human and material infrastructure needed to achieve these goals.” They also stressed the need to be wary of what is happening in the region, particularly the spread of terrorism; indicating that wisdom and diplomacy are necessary in facing regional challenges.

They called for improvement of health services through the construction of more hospitals and hiring medical specialists in order to reduce the number of citizens undergoing treatment abroad. They emphasized the importance of diversifying sources of national income by creating new economic entities and job opportunities for citizens, asserting these steps will reflect positively on the people and general budget of the State. Furthermore, some MPs criticized the economic reform document submitted by the government; pointing out its negative effects on the living standard of citizens and residents. They then urged the government to amend some items in the document to ensure a decent life for those with low and medium incomes. National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim adjourned the session until Jan 10, 2017.

By Abubakar A. Ibrahim Arab Times Staff and Agencies

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