Iraq MPs reject rail link Kuwait

Wed 21:49 Iraq MPs reject rail link Kuwait Rizla1 1 http://news.kuwaittimes.net/iraq-mps-reject-rail-link-kuwait/ Kuwait Times 21:40 KUWAIT: Some Iraqi lawmakers recently expressed reservations about building a railway linking Iraq and Kuwait describing it as “meant for Kuwait’s interests only”. In this regard, the Vice-Chairman of the parliamentary committee for regions and governorates, Mansour Al-Tamimi said that the project would have a dramatic negative impact on Iraqi ports and the Iraqi economy in general. “The railway would limit the role played by Iraqi ports in Basra and mainly focus on Kuwaiti ports”, he stressed noting that the railway would hinder Basra Port’s major project. In another development, MP Osama Al-Tahous said that he still intends to grill Dr Nayef Al-Hajraf, Minister of Education and Higher Education, and Minister of Social Work and Labor Thekra Al-Rashidi. “I will not consider filing a no-confidence vote against Al-Hajraf but, in view of the volume of the issues under her jurisdiction and the fact that she did not take necessary procedures, I will possibly resort to a no-confidence vote with Minister Al-Rashidi”, he remarked. Meanwhile, Thekra Al-Rashidi has dissolved Subahiya Co-op’s Board of Directors over some financial violations and appointed a temporary one in place. Also, MP Hamdan Al-Azmi has filed inquiries to Abdul Aziz Al-Ibrahim, Minister of Public Works and Minister of Electricity and Water (MPW), asking whether the cost of Al-Jabriya entrance from the Fifth Ring Road project had actually jumped from an estimated cost of KD650 million to KD 850 million, as reported by a local daily. “Such an increase of KD200 million is suspicious; especially since the project had been delayed by MPW and the cost had already been changed five times upon orders from the minister”, he added. By A Saleh