Both parties tackle important issues
CHINESE President Hu Jintao met his American counterpart, Barack Obama, when he visited the US recently. During the meeting, both leaders reached an agreement to strengthen ties between the two nations based on mutual respect and benefit. This visit has opened new doors for the American-Chinese relations to prosper, considering both parties had looked into a number of important issues like the dispute between North and South Korea, Iran’s nuclear project, situation in Tibet, currency wars, human rights in China and many other global challenges.The visit also signaled the closure of the cold war chapter between the East and the West, while providing opportunities for working together and building mutual trust, away from the unrest brought about by loss of trust and mounting uncertainty.The two nations’ intention to embark on projects with an estimated total cost of $45 billion is a huge step towards building new strategic relationships, bridging gaps and creating a new structure of economic cooperation. This ushers in a new era of construction, stability and development between the two nations and the world, instead of harming each other.Moreover, the meeting has not only focused on issues concerning the US and China but also the international security concerns. These two countries are not ordinary members of the United Nations (UN); they are responsible and major players in the Security Council, which must put world peace and security on top of its priority list, especially this time when the international community is gearing towards a new world order — multi-polarity.Email: labeed.abdal@gmail.com
By: Labeed Abdal
http://www.arabtimesonline.com/NewsDetails/tabid/96/smid/414/ArticleID/165557/reftab/73/Default.aspx
Monday 14 February 2011
Wednesday 2 February 2011
‘Tunisia-effect’ likely to hit more Middle East countries, says Abdal
‘We would like to see Iraq democratic’
KUWAIT CITY, Feb 1: Tunisia triggered a snowball effect of change in the region by overthrowing its president through mass unrest. The effect is likely to rub on to more countries in the Middle East, says Kuwaiti lawyer Labeed Abdal.
The lawyer shared some of his insights into the politics, law and other issues in the region during a recent interview with the Arab Times.
Talking about the origins of Kuwait’s legal system, Labeed said Kuwait’s legal system came from the Latin system, “as our laws were drafted from Egyptian and French laws. Our system depends on codification of laws unlike the Anglo Saxon system which evolves laws from precedents”.
Labeed added that most of the legal advisers in the early times during the drafting of the constitution were Egyptians, “which is the reason that we took after the Latin system. Moreover, Egypt is one of the oldest Arab countries with an established legal system, and so we invited Egyptian legal experts to support us in the drafting of our laws.”
“Kuwait also borrowed from Islamic Sharia for laws relating to family matters, marriage, divorce, custody, inheritance, will and so on for Muslims.”
To a question on Kuwait’s claim of war indemnity from Iraq, the lawyer replied that it is based on a UN resolution. “Reparation for the damage caused by the Iraqi invasion is justified according to international law and justice.”
Moving to the subject of an emerging state in post-Bathist Iraq, Labeed noted the new constitution of Iraq reflects the aspirations of the Iraqis for their future. He hailed the innovative power-sharing model in which Shias are in control in the South, Sunnis in the central provinces and the Kurds in the North.
“We in Kuwait would like to see Iraq as a democratic country, stable and free, as they are our neighbors, and it will be to the benefit of the region for Iraq to prosper and be an active member in the international community. This is necessary for the peace and security of the region and the world at large.”
Labeed, who was honored by being included in the Special Tribunal (STL) of Lebanon for the trial of the alleged murderers of Lebanon’s late Prime Minister, Rafiq Hariri, said that he became an international lawyer after getting enlisted in the International Criminal Court (ICC) in Hague as a Defense Counsel. This gave him much experience in international criminal procedures and the ability to deal with international crimes including crimes against humanity and genocide.
“After being enlisted as a defense lawyer in the ICC, I became even more interested to register in the STL. I now had all the necessary credentials and was eager to work for international justice. And I was inducted into the tribunal”.
The investigations of the trial are still going on and the prosecution is gathering more evidence to be able to make a final list of the accused persons, Labeed added.
“The court was established by a request from the Lebanese government and accordingly a resolution by the UN Security Council was issued to establish and organize the court.”
Labeed feels the GCC is moving towards the formation of common currency, “and all the member states are doing everything in their capacity to make it happen”. He is confident that such a move will give a big boost to the region as it would open up free movement of capital and goods, and pave the way for a regional railroad network.
When asked if a common legal system for the GCC would be possible, Labeed said that there already are regional agreements that regulate trade, customs, transportation, agriculture and industry among others.
To a question on Kuwait’s developmental model in comparison to Dubai and Qatar, which is growing at a fast pace, Labeed replied that Kuwait is moving in the same direction, “especially after the new Development Plan, extending till 2035.
“Kuwait has already committed $ 145 billion for infrastructure including education, health and railroads.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By: Valiya S. Sajjad
http://www.arabtimesonline.com/NewsDetails/tabid/96/smid/414/ArticleID/165070/t/%E2%80%98Tunisia-effect%E2%80%99-likely-to-hit-more-Middle-East-countries,-says-Abdal/Default.aspx
KUWAIT CITY, Feb 1: Tunisia triggered a snowball effect of change in the region by overthrowing its president through mass unrest. The effect is likely to rub on to more countries in the Middle East, says Kuwaiti lawyer Labeed Abdal.
The lawyer shared some of his insights into the politics, law and other issues in the region during a recent interview with the Arab Times.
Talking about the origins of Kuwait’s legal system, Labeed said Kuwait’s legal system came from the Latin system, “as our laws were drafted from Egyptian and French laws. Our system depends on codification of laws unlike the Anglo Saxon system which evolves laws from precedents”.
Labeed added that most of the legal advisers in the early times during the drafting of the constitution were Egyptians, “which is the reason that we took after the Latin system. Moreover, Egypt is one of the oldest Arab countries with an established legal system, and so we invited Egyptian legal experts to support us in the drafting of our laws.”
“Kuwait also borrowed from Islamic Sharia for laws relating to family matters, marriage, divorce, custody, inheritance, will and so on for Muslims.”
To a question on Kuwait’s claim of war indemnity from Iraq, the lawyer replied that it is based on a UN resolution. “Reparation for the damage caused by the Iraqi invasion is justified according to international law and justice.”
Moving to the subject of an emerging state in post-Bathist Iraq, Labeed noted the new constitution of Iraq reflects the aspirations of the Iraqis for their future. He hailed the innovative power-sharing model in which Shias are in control in the South, Sunnis in the central provinces and the Kurds in the North.
“We in Kuwait would like to see Iraq as a democratic country, stable and free, as they are our neighbors, and it will be to the benefit of the region for Iraq to prosper and be an active member in the international community. This is necessary for the peace and security of the region and the world at large.”
Labeed, who was honored by being included in the Special Tribunal (STL) of Lebanon for the trial of the alleged murderers of Lebanon’s late Prime Minister, Rafiq Hariri, said that he became an international lawyer after getting enlisted in the International Criminal Court (ICC) in Hague as a Defense Counsel. This gave him much experience in international criminal procedures and the ability to deal with international crimes including crimes against humanity and genocide.
“After being enlisted as a defense lawyer in the ICC, I became even more interested to register in the STL. I now had all the necessary credentials and was eager to work for international justice. And I was inducted into the tribunal”.
The investigations of the trial are still going on and the prosecution is gathering more evidence to be able to make a final list of the accused persons, Labeed added.
“The court was established by a request from the Lebanese government and accordingly a resolution by the UN Security Council was issued to establish and organize the court.”
Labeed feels the GCC is moving towards the formation of common currency, “and all the member states are doing everything in their capacity to make it happen”. He is confident that such a move will give a big boost to the region as it would open up free movement of capital and goods, and pave the way for a regional railroad network.
When asked if a common legal system for the GCC would be possible, Labeed said that there already are regional agreements that regulate trade, customs, transportation, agriculture and industry among others.
To a question on Kuwait’s developmental model in comparison to Dubai and Qatar, which is growing at a fast pace, Labeed replied that Kuwait is moving in the same direction, “especially after the new Development Plan, extending till 2035.
“Kuwait has already committed $ 145 billion for infrastructure including education, health and railroads.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By: Valiya S. Sajjad
http://www.arabtimesonline.com/NewsDetails/tabid/96/smid/414/ArticleID/165070/t/%E2%80%98Tunisia-effect%E2%80%99-likely-to-hit-more-Middle-East-countries,-says-Abdal/Default.aspx
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