Kuwait to resolve illegal residents'' issue in 5 years -- top diplomat

Head of the Kuwait Permanent Mission at the UN Dharar A. Razzooqi
(with photos) GENEVA, May 13 (KUNA) -- The State of Kuwait is seeking to resolve the issue of illegal residents, according to laws, in a maximum period of five years, affirmed the Head of the Kuwait Permanent Mission at the UN here.
Dharar A. Razzooqi, commenting on a report by the UN Committee against Torture, said this problem was deeply rooted and became more complicated during the 1990-1991 occupation of the country.
Kuwait is dealing with this issue from a sovereign perspective, basically, he stressed.
Shedding light on the state aid for these residents, Razzooqi noted establishment of special funds for health care and education, noting the authorities' keenness on issuing identity cards for them.
Moreover, Razzooqi has rejected allegations that the state is not fulfilling its obligations in this respect.
H e indicated at eagerness of many people to obtain the Kuwaiti citizenship to benefit from the substantial state support programs for the citizens, indicating that the government has been also generous to other nations in need for aid, citing diverse charitable projects funded by Kuwait across the globe.
The Kuwaiti mission has submitted the file of the illegal residents to Navi Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, illustrating the Kuwaiti government efforts at this level.
On executions, the top diplomat indicated the Kuwaiti judicial authorities would issue such a verdict after lengthy and elaborate procedures, noting that there has been no executions in the country since five years ago. He also denied claims the Kuwaiti judiciary would order amputation of human organs as a penalty.
The UN commission is expected to receive replies from Kuwait, through diplomatic channels, about other issues related to the status of foreign labor and the definit ion of torture.