KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - THE NEW GOVERNMENT

UNCLAS KUWAIT 002749 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 Block Quotes -------------- Sunday, July 09, 2006 -- Editor-in-chief of pro-government Arabic daily Al-Seyassah Ahmed Al-Jarallah penned on the front page under the title "Who Forms the Government?" (7/9): "Kuwaitis want a government with strong presence--one that will implement the law and carry out the wishes of its Amir, resume projects that have been stalled for four years, and put an end to the waste of time resulting from political festivals. A strong government is what is needed in order to fill its place as an executive power." -- Secretary General of the Journalists' Association, Faisal Al-Qanai editorialized in pro-government Arabic daily Al-Seyassah under the title "A Minister for Every Citizen" (7/9): "The regime is before a tough and historic choice today, there are great pressures to place conditions on the selection of ministers and the elimination of some. This is the very first time that the regime has faced such a situation. The response to such pressures will set a dangerous precedent, and we fear its ramifications will affect the prestige, stability, and future of the regime." -- Ali Fahd Al-Ajmi stated in moderate Arabic daily Al-Watan under the title "What Do We Want from Future MPs?" (7/9): "1. Review of decrees issued during the dissolution of the Assembly in 2003. 2. Review the recommendations presented during the dissolution of the 2003 Assembly. 3. Build more hospitals in different areas of Kuwait. ¶4. Reform the education system. 5. Reform social insurance. 6. Protect public funds." -- Abdul Latif Al-Daij commented in progressive Arabic daily Al-Qabas under the title "Six Female Ministers is a Reasonable Request" (7/9): "It will not be easy for females to become Members of Parliament through free direct elections. The recently-held elections did not eliminate the possibility completely as they were held under extraordinary circumstances.... What is meant is that if it became common practice for a quarter or half of the government to be women, it will become acceptable for a percentage to be in parliament. This will not occur over night but it will certainly be faster than waiting for traditions and social norms to change." ********************************************* * 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