Kuwait drawing up new military conscription law

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KUWAIT: The government has begun drawing up new military conscription legislation to present to the National Assembly after various concerned parties contributed their views on the matter. A high-ranking government official said that the proposed conscription law will be completely different to the previous legislation, adding that there is already partial agreement between the government and Parliament on presenting this law during the next Parliamentary session.

The official added that among the features of the new law is a reduction of the military service period, an increase in conscripts' salaries, and the exemption from service of employees with vital professions, such as doctors, as well as holders of high-level degrees. It also stipulates that conscripts should not be under 18 years of age, reported Al Jarida.

The official explained the new law aims at supporting the country's military force by providing a second line of defense, adding that mobilization plans should be ready in case of any emergency in the country.

Meanwhile, at its meeting today, the Cabinet is reportedly scheduled to discuss various issues, most notably the recent exchanges between Foreign Minister Mohammad Al Sabah and MP Hussein Al Qallaf about the country's stance on Iran's threat to close the Hormuz Strait. Another subject high on the agenda will be how best to combat the phenomenon of steep price rises.

The government's focus is largely on the security situation regarding the tension between the USA and Iran and Kuwait's position regarding this issue, as well as the negative repercussions it could have for the country, particularly on the export of oil in the event that the Hurmoz Strait is closed.

A government official predicted that the Cabinet would issue a response to Al-Qallaf's statements regarding a recent controversial speech by the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mohammadi.

The government is also expected to discuss the national emergency plan, with every minister expected to contribute to dealing with any possible crisis. As for the government's efforts to combat high prices, Commerce and Industry Minister Ahmad Baqer is expected to present a number of strategies to relieve citizens of the burden of high prices, most importantly introducing subsidies for rice and meat and adding new items to their ration cards.

Meanwhile, MP Mohammed Al-Saqer, the head of the parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee, said on Saturday that the Iranian threat to close the Hormuz Strait would be considered to be a form of punishment to the Gulf States and the whole international community.

Al-Saqer emphasized that Gulf States should not be punished for international relations, saying that the closure of the strategically critical Strait would not merely punish the United States but the entire international community, reported Al Rai. The prominent MP predicted, however, that Iran was unlikely to adversely affect its international relations by closing the Strait. Al-Saqer flatly rejected any such closure due to the bad relations between Iran and the US and Europe, especially, he said, since the US would not be affected by closing the Strait as devastatingly as the Gulf States would.

Abdulrahman Al-Attiyah, the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), has condemned the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister's statement made last Friday, in which Manouchehr Mohammadi cast doubt on the legitimacy of the Gulf states' "monarchies and traditional systems," questioning their ability to survive.

Al Attiyah expressed the disappointment of GCC states at Mohammadi's statement, made during a speech delivered at an academic conference, describing it as "dangerous and hostile," reported Al Wasat.

The Saudi News Agency has reported Al- Attiyah as saying that the declaration was extremely unhelpful in building a state of trust and mutual respect between the neighbors of the region states, but on the contrary would inflame hostility and endanger the future of the region.

© Kuwait Times 2008