July 4, 2011
Gulf political, economic reform crucial: Kuwait PM
Gulf Arab rulers should enact economic and political reforms or risk raising the ire of their citizens, Kuwait’s prime minister was quoted as saying in the pan-Arab newspaper Al Hayat.
Sheikh Nasser Al Mohammad Al Sabah remarks came two weeks after the country’s Amir warned there would be “zero tolerance” for anyone threatening Kuwait’s security.
“We believe that the reform process in all the (Gulf) countries are an important and crucial matter,” Sheikh Nasser told the daily during a tour of the Gulf Arab states.
“It is not possible to realise growth and stability in any country without economic and political reforms and to realise welfare of the peoples.”
In January, the government announced plans to spend nearly $5 billion, or around 4 percent of its GDP, on cash grants and free food rations.
On Monday, Sheikh Nasser called for improved relations with Iran. Relations between the two states have deteriorated over the past year with Kuwait accusing Iran of running a spy cell in the Gulf state.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?col=§ion=middleeast&xfile=data/middleeast/2011/July/middleeast_July81.xml
