Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KUWAIT2671
2006-07-03 15:27:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - ELECTION RESULTS AND FORMATION OF
how-toVZCZCXRO8243 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK DE RUEHKU #2671 1841527 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 031527Z JUL 06 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5588 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHWSMRC/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA// IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS KUWAIT 002671
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, NEA/PI, INR/NESA, R/MR, I/GNEA,
B/BXN, B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN
LONDON FOR TSOU
PARIS FOR ZEYA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO KDEM PGOV KU MEDIA REACTION
SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - ELECTION RESULTS AND FORMATION OF
THE NEW GOVERNMENT
Block Quotes
--------------
Monday, July 03, 2006
-- The staff of progressive Arabic daily Al-Qabas' penned on the
front page under the title "A Government with New Specifications"
(7/3): "What is needed is simply a new composition of the
government. There should be new and different specifications and
standards from those of the previous government in order for it to
handle such a grand problem, one that has threatened our
democracy.... We need ministers who do not prove their viability by
performing services for the MPs and those with influence. They
should prove themselves through their qualifications, their
adherence to the public interest, and their ability to defend
themselves. This should be through their achievement not their
loyalties and their following of certain centers of power."
-- Dr. Hamad Mohamed Al-Matar commented in progressive Arabic daily
Al-Qabas under the title "A Quick Reading of the 2006 Elections"
(7/3): "We hope to see a reformist government that can put its hands
into the hands of the MPS and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the
legislature. We hope to continue the path of reform with the
legislative and executive branches hand-in-hand. Reform has become
the primary concern of the entire Kuwaiti society, especially the
youth. Do we respect the opinion of society...or do we continue
with the mistaken views that will reflect negatively on the
relationship between the executive branch and the populist
legislative branch?"
-- Dr. Badriyah Abdullah Al-Awadhi editorialized in the progressive
Arabic daily Al-Qabas under the title "The Elections Proved Women's
Political Power" (7/3): "We turn to the honorable MPs before they
take the constitutional oath and say they must preserve women's
rights. Those rights contributed significantly to them reaching the
National Assembly, despite some recently having held positions
opposing women's rights. We hope that women's effective political
participation in the elections has changed their previous
positions."
-- Political Science professor Dr. Shafiq Nazem Al-Ghabra stated in
moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai Al-Aam under the title "Kuwait after
the Elections" (7/3): "Political reform is now the top priority....
It is clear now that without serious political reform Kuwait will
not succeed in its transformation to economic reform and
development. That which guarantees Kuwait's regional leadership
role and makes up for the decrease in oil prices is political reform
-- the pathway to the future."
-- Lawyer and columnist, Shaykha Fawzia Salim Al-Sabah remarked in
moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai Al-Aam under the title "The Electoral
Battle Has Ended" (7/3): "Now, we are waiting for the MPs to
commence their work and to begin evaluating their performance. We
hope they will not differ on the chairing of committees and argue
before the government simply to show off and attract attention. We
hope they will raise the level of political rhetoric."
-- Nabil Al-Fadl noted in moderate Arabic daily Al-Watan under the
title "Will the Assembly Remain the Same?" (7/3): "If we were in the
government's place, we would go into the redistricting session with
a united position. A position stating that the National Assembly
will vote on the number of districts it wants and the Council of
Ministers will support the choice of the majority. The question is
if the government comes in unstable to the electrified Assembly and
the districts were reduced to five through agreement, will the
'orange' MPs then do as they promise? Will they dissolve the
Assembly and hold elections based on the reduced number of
districts?"
********************************************* *
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s
Visit Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
********************************************* *
TUELLER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, NEA/PI, INR/NESA, R/MR, I/GNEA,
B/BXN, B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN
LONDON FOR TSOU
PARIS FOR ZEYA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO KDEM PGOV KU MEDIA REACTION
SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - ELECTION RESULTS AND FORMATION OF
THE NEW GOVERNMENT
Block Quotes
--------------
Monday, July 03, 2006
-- The staff of progressive Arabic daily Al-Qabas' penned on the
front page under the title "A Government with New Specifications"
(7/3): "What is needed is simply a new composition of the
government. There should be new and different specifications and
standards from those of the previous government in order for it to
handle such a grand problem, one that has threatened our
democracy.... We need ministers who do not prove their viability by
performing services for the MPs and those with influence. They
should prove themselves through their qualifications, their
adherence to the public interest, and their ability to defend
themselves. This should be through their achievement not their
loyalties and their following of certain centers of power."
-- Dr. Hamad Mohamed Al-Matar commented in progressive Arabic daily
Al-Qabas under the title "A Quick Reading of the 2006 Elections"
(7/3): "We hope to see a reformist government that can put its hands
into the hands of the MPS and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the
legislature. We hope to continue the path of reform with the
legislative and executive branches hand-in-hand. Reform has become
the primary concern of the entire Kuwaiti society, especially the
youth. Do we respect the opinion of society...or do we continue
with the mistaken views that will reflect negatively on the
relationship between the executive branch and the populist
legislative branch?"
-- Dr. Badriyah Abdullah Al-Awadhi editorialized in the progressive
Arabic daily Al-Qabas under the title "The Elections Proved Women's
Political Power" (7/3): "We turn to the honorable MPs before they
take the constitutional oath and say they must preserve women's
rights. Those rights contributed significantly to them reaching the
National Assembly, despite some recently having held positions
opposing women's rights. We hope that women's effective political
participation in the elections has changed their previous
positions."
-- Political Science professor Dr. Shafiq Nazem Al-Ghabra stated in
moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai Al-Aam under the title "Kuwait after
the Elections" (7/3): "Political reform is now the top priority....
It is clear now that without serious political reform Kuwait will
not succeed in its transformation to economic reform and
development. That which guarantees Kuwait's regional leadership
role and makes up for the decrease in oil prices is political reform
-- the pathway to the future."
-- Lawyer and columnist, Shaykha Fawzia Salim Al-Sabah remarked in
moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai Al-Aam under the title "The Electoral
Battle Has Ended" (7/3): "Now, we are waiting for the MPs to
commence their work and to begin evaluating their performance. We
hope they will not differ on the chairing of committees and argue
before the government simply to show off and attract attention. We
hope they will raise the level of political rhetoric."
-- Nabil Al-Fadl noted in moderate Arabic daily Al-Watan under the
title "Will the Assembly Remain the Same?" (7/3): "If we were in the
government's place, we would go into the redistricting session with
a united position. A position stating that the National Assembly
will vote on the number of districts it wants and the Council of
Ministers will support the choice of the majority. The question is
if the government comes in unstable to the electrified Assembly and
the districts were reduced to five through agreement, will the
'orange' MPs then do as they promise? Will they dissolve the
Assembly and hold elections based on the reduced number of
districts?"
********************************************* *
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s
Visit Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
********************************************* *
TUELLER