KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - THE NEW GOVERNMENT AND THE ENEMIES

UNCLAS KUWAIT 002726 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 - THE NEW GOVERNMENT AND THE ENEMIES OF KUWAITI WOMEN Block Quotes -------------- Saturday, July 08, 2006 -- Yousef Mubarak Al-Mubarki penned in progressive Arabic daily Al-Qabas under the title "Government of initiative, not maneuvering" (7/8): "For the Prime Minister to guarantee the absence of confrontation, he must not give ministerial portfolios to those known as 'crisis ministers.' This initiative will demonstrate to the Assembly the government's willingness to cooperate.... I think the coming period requires a careful reading into the election's results and the comprehension of the lessons at hand." -- Columnist Dr. Ayed Al-Manaa editorialized in moderate Arabic daily Al-Watan under the title "The Road Map to Cooperation" (7/8): "First, the government should avoid any type of interference in the election of the Speaker of the Assembly. Second, the government must present a clear program for its work during the next four years. Third, the government must be formed of either technocrats with no political affiliations or be representative of all political and social groups. Fourth, the government must be free of ministers who may be labeled as 'crisis-ministers.' Fifth, the government should leave all redistricting projects to the Assembly and not interfere with the opinion of the majority." -- Secretary General of the Journalists' Association, Faisal Al-Qanai stated in pro-government Arabic daily Al-Seyassah under the title "National Assembly or Revolutionary Council" (7/8): "The tone and demeanor of some MPs when presenting their demands of the regime and government are those of one who has been elected to a revolutionary council not a National Assembly. There are limits that must be respected, especially when they relate to the rights and constitutional powers of the ruler.... The selection of ministers is the absolute right of the Prime Minister and they are the tools through which the Amir rules. MPs should only hold them accountable through constitutional means such as questioning and monitoring their performance." -- Osama Safar commented in progressive Arabic daily Al-Qabas under the title "Kuwaiti Women's Enemies" (7/8): "It has become a matter of hatred and spite towards Kuwaiti women as well as exploitation of them for their votes. A question to the constitutional movement 'HADAS,' why did you not nominate a woman to represent your movement in the elections? Why were you content with begging for women's votes, knowing that your 'coalitionist' list nominates females in the university's elections? Is it permissible in the university and forbidden in the National Assembly?" ********************************************* * 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