ID :
192701
Mon, 07/04/2011 - 11:06
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https://www.oananews.org//node/192701
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Al-Kharafi highlights Kuwait PM''s Gulf tour
KUWAIT, July 3 (KUNA) -- Kuwaiti National Assembly (parliament) Speaker Jassem Al-Kharafi said Sunday the Gulf tour by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah materializes the fraternity between Kuwait and the other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member countries.
"Such top-level exchanges play a constructive role in cementing the already-close bonds and enhancing cooperation among the Gulf countries," Al-Kharafi told reporters here on the eve of the tour which will take HH the Prime Minister to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Bahrain.
"Regardless of the tensions in some parts of the region, we n eed to maintain close contacts and consultations. The Gulf nations feel a huge surge of relief and happiness when they see their leaders meeting and sharing views on issues of common interest," he affirmed.
Commenting on the relationship between the legislative and executive authorities during the just-ended legislative term, Al-Kharafi said: "The legislature practiced its mandate in criticizing the shortcomings in a positive way and trying to find solutions while maintaining close coordination and cooperation with the government.
"While the parliament needs to discharge its duty in criticizing and law-making, the government needs to discharge its mandate in executing laws, so their roles are complementary rather than conflicting," he pointed out.
"We, in the parliament and the government, share care for the interests of the homeland and serve as two sides of the same coin. The parliament's speakership spares no effort in facilitating cooperation between both sides in an unbiased way," Al-Kharafi said, expressing satisfaction with the performance of his department.
However, he admitted inability to guarantee satisfaction of all the 50 law-makers or the 16 cabinet members.
Asked about the opposition by an MP to HH the Prime Minister continuing in office, Al-Kharafi said if any MP has a point of view, they should express it inside the Abdullah Al-Salem hall (the main hall of the parliament).
"True democracy means that we should respect the views of the majority, not practice intimidation to dictate our will to others. The MPs are elected, not appointed, representatives of the people, so the minority should fully respect the views of the majority as per the democratic norms," he explained.
Al-Kharafi voiced hope that the government will use the summer recess of the parliament in reviewing the various issues raised in the just-ended term notably the development project, and preparing for the coming parliamentary term in a more practical way.
Regarding the controversy over Mubarak Al-Khabeer Harbor, Al-Kharafi said: "It's not bad that our viewpoint is different from that of Iraq as long as both of us are keen on cooperation and neighborliness." "The joint committee is tasked with solving any differences in a peaceful constructive way, and thwarting any dispute that could mar the neighborly ties between the two countries," he added.
Commenting on Bahrain's national dialogue which started earlier today, Al-Kharafi said he sent letters to Bahraini King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa and parliament speaker Khalifa Bin Hamad Al-Dhahrani to congratulate them on this occasion.
He added that the dialogue is a step forward on the right track, voicing hope that that broad political spectrum in the kingdom would be keen on the success of the dialogue in order to meet the aspirations of the nation.
"Such top-level exchanges play a constructive role in cementing the already-close bonds and enhancing cooperation among the Gulf countries," Al-Kharafi told reporters here on the eve of the tour which will take HH the Prime Minister to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Bahrain.
"Regardless of the tensions in some parts of the region, we n eed to maintain close contacts and consultations. The Gulf nations feel a huge surge of relief and happiness when they see their leaders meeting and sharing views on issues of common interest," he affirmed.
Commenting on the relationship between the legislative and executive authorities during the just-ended legislative term, Al-Kharafi said: "The legislature practiced its mandate in criticizing the shortcomings in a positive way and trying to find solutions while maintaining close coordination and cooperation with the government.
"While the parliament needs to discharge its duty in criticizing and law-making, the government needs to discharge its mandate in executing laws, so their roles are complementary rather than conflicting," he pointed out.
"We, in the parliament and the government, share care for the interests of the homeland and serve as two sides of the same coin. The parliament's speakership spares no effort in facilitating cooperation between both sides in an unbiased way," Al-Kharafi said, expressing satisfaction with the performance of his department.
However, he admitted inability to guarantee satisfaction of all the 50 law-makers or the 16 cabinet members.
Asked about the opposition by an MP to HH the Prime Minister continuing in office, Al-Kharafi said if any MP has a point of view, they should express it inside the Abdullah Al-Salem hall (the main hall of the parliament).
"True democracy means that we should respect the views of the majority, not practice intimidation to dictate our will to others. The MPs are elected, not appointed, representatives of the people, so the minority should fully respect the views of the majority as per the democratic norms," he explained.
Al-Kharafi voiced hope that the government will use the summer recess of the parliament in reviewing the various issues raised in the just-ended term notably the development project, and preparing for the coming parliamentary term in a more practical way.
Regarding the controversy over Mubarak Al-Khabeer Harbor, Al-Kharafi said: "It's not bad that our viewpoint is different from that of Iraq as long as both of us are keen on cooperation and neighborliness." "The joint committee is tasked with solving any differences in a peaceful constructive way, and thwarting any dispute that could mar the neighborly ties between the two countries," he added.
Commenting on Bahrain's national dialogue which started earlier today, Al-Kharafi said he sent letters to Bahraini King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa and parliament speaker Khalifa Bin Hamad Al-Dhahrani to congratulate them on this occasion.
He added that the dialogue is a step forward on the right track, voicing hope that that broad political spectrum in the kingdom would be keen on the success of the dialogue in order to meet the aspirations of the nation.
