Kuwaiti parliament asks government to reduce expenditures

The Kuwaiti state council yesterday asked the government to reduce the expenditures in the state's budget and asked the Cabinet to present suggestions to reform the state's economy.

Sheikh Ali Salem al-Sabah, the Kuwaiti minister of finance, said the parliament's deputies asked the government to reduce expenditures as well as to present suggestions to implement specific procedures concerning this matter to the financial committee affiliated to the council.

That came after a confidential session held by the Kuwaiti parliament to discuss the weakness of Kuwaiti financial resources because of the reduction in international petroleum prices.

Sheikh Ali Salem al-Sabah also reviewed the efforts exerted to support economic reforms.

The Cabinet suggested a budget of 4.86 billion Kuwaiti dinars for the fiscal year 1998-1999, which includes a shortage of 1.7 billion dinars.