Kuwait vows to help Iraq regain standing Kuwait Times - 26 September, 2009
HH the Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah said yesterday his country would continue backing all efforts to helping Iraq regain its position in regional and international arenas. Kuwait shall "continue to back and support all efforts aiming at assisting Iraq to regain its standing and natural position in its regional and international environments, in order to build a democratic, unified and peaceful Iraq, living in peace with itself and its neighbors, committed to fulfill its obligations as provided by the resolutions of international legitimacy," Sheikh Nasser said in his address to the 64th session of the UN General Assembly as head of Kuwait delegation.
In the speech, the premier expressed "appreciation for the efforts and good offices" of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, as well as the staff of the UN Secretariat "to improve the performance of the United Nations bodies and to enhance and develop their capacities, so as to keep pace with the new international conditions and respond effectively to the challenges and dangers of our world today." He affirmed that "never before has the world been in such a need for a strong and effective global organization, as it does today.
Sheikh Nasser noted that "diversity of challenges, crises and new developments and their complexities, which confront our world today, in addition to the regional and international questions, which have remained unresolved for a long period of time, require all states to assume their responsibilities in supporting this organization, providing it with the needed financial resources to enable it to perform its duties and discharge its responsibilities effectively with advanced methodology. Sheikh Nasser added "the United Nations itself has the responsibility to improve its own administrative structure, its performance in the field, and raise its capabilities to sense and monitor new developing challenges, and rise to a level, which would match the dangers of the times in which the world lives, and require bold initiatives, quick action and effective cure.
The issues of terrorism, eradication of poverty and hunger, combating dangerous diseases such as HIV AIDS, malaria, in addition to the A(H1N1) flu virus, which has spread recently in a frightful manner all over the world, add to that the spread of the scourge of illegal drugs -these are issues that require from our organization a non-conventional joint action that recognizes the dangers, diagnoses the crises, prepares the resources, and intervenes effectively in a collective fashion," he stressed.
Sheikh Nasser also stressed the importance of "stirring regional and specialized organizations into action in a concerted and organized effort," considering this "an important asset in combating these challenges." The premier said that there are threats that the international community "still suffers from," namely the financial and economic crisis and the "phenomenon" of climate change.
He stressed that the financial crisis "negatively impacted the economies of the developing countries; it impeded their efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, which resulted in the emergence of economic and social problems, such as high rates of unemployment, deceleration in the rate of economic growth, the collapse of financial markets and an obvious contraction in regional and world trade.
In this regard, Sheikh Nasser welcomed the final document adopted by the high-level meeting convened by the President of the General Assembly last June, where commitments were made to assist developing countries to overcome impacts of the financial crisis through increase of official development aid, the improvement of international trade system and emphasizing need to continue reform of international financial institutions to ensure equitable representation in their executive boards, improve their oversight role, as well as improving the conditions for providing financial and technical assistance for the developing and least-developed countries.
The premier also affirmed that this effort "along with the joint arrangements led to emergence of signs of global economic recovery during the last few weeks." He also voiced hope that "such action will flow to address a no less dangerous crisis, that of climate change and the degradation of the environment." He stressed that this problem "requires an urgent global response. In this regard, we look forward to the success of the important conference, which will be held next December in Copenhagen, Denmark.
HH Sheikh Nasser shed light on the 30th Summit Conference of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which Kuwait will host in mid December, saying "they will have before them an agenda replete with issues topped by a project of vital importance to the integration of those states, which is linking the electrical power grids between the states of the Cooperation Council." "We hope this strategic step will be the start of many others, among which is the project of monetary unification and the issuance of a unified Gulf currency," he remarked.
Also in the speech, Sheikh Nasser said that Kuwait is "proud to top the list of Arab states by holding the 33rd position globally in human development." He indicated that Kuwait scored the highest marks among the Arab states in the fields of education, health and public freedoms, as the report issued this year by the United Nations Development Program shows. "Let there be no doubt that the government of Kuwait shall continue exerting its efforts to advance economic and social conditions, and seek to fulfill all of the Millennium Development Goals even before the targeted date, which will provide a better life for its citizens," he affirmed.
He added that Kuwait is also proud to top the list of Arab states, and internationally, in the field of combating illegal drugs and their trade, through "an intensive national effort and broad regional cooperation, which achieved outstanding results." He affirmed that Kuwait will "continue to follow in its steady course in fulfilling all of its commitments to international and regional institutes, funds, and programs operating in the fields of development aid, as well as supporting infrastructure projects in the developing and least developed countries.
He noted that Kuwait will also continue to "contribute to development projects through the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, which, since its establishment in 1961, has provided assistance in an amount that exceeds USD 14.5 billion to more than 100 countries." Sheikh Nasser highlighted the initiatives Kuwait took with "a view to stimulate economic growth, raise the standards of living, and reduce poverty in states that suffered from the increase in the prices of basic food commodities," saying that for this purpose, Kuwait established the "Decent Living Fund" with a $ 100 million capital and it also allocated $ 300 million to fight poverty in Africa through the Islamic Development Bank.
HH Sheikh Nasser stressed that despite the fact that Kuwait is a developing country, however, the percentage of humanitarian development aid it provides, "exceeds that adopted in international conferences, where it reached 1.31 percent of its GNP compared to 0.45 percent of the GNP of the member states in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OCED)." He added that "departing from the realization of the State of Kuwait of the importance of economic cooperation and trade exchange in consolidating relations between states, HH the Amir of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, convened the first Arab Economic Developmental and Social Summit, which was held in Kuwait last January.
He indicated that during the summit, a number of "important and ambitious" economic projects were adopted in order to reach "new horizons of partnership and cooperation." He noted that also adopted was the proposal by Kuwait to establish a fund with a two-billion dollar capital "with a view to support and finance small and medium size development projects, which will contribute to raising the standards of living of the Arab citizen.
Kuwait pledged to contribute $ 500 million to this Fund. The speech also shed light on the recent Parliamentary elections in Kuwait, which were held last June, and "represented a quality transformation in the Kuwaiti parliamentary life, where four women obtained the trust and the support of Kuwaiti voters." "They now join their brothers in representing the Kuwaiti people, and express their ambitions under the dome of the People's Congress," he remarked.He affirmed that this "civilized accomplishment comes after Kuwaiti women achieved success in the fields of private enterprise, public, as well as private government work, including holding ministerial positions in the Kuwaiti Cabinet." He said "we express our pride and appreciation for the significant achievements of Kuwaiti women, and will continue to support their role as active partners in the political, economic and social arenas."
Furthermore the premier stressed in his speech that "with much sorrow and pain, the question of Palestine remains unresolved for over six decades now," despite "numerous international efforts and initiatives launched by a number of international and regional players .He added that "however, a source of major concern is the deteriorating political, economic, social and humanitarian situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, as a result of the continued exercise of Israel, the occupying power, of its illegal policies and practices in contradiction of international law and relevant United Nations' resolutions.
In this regard, we renew our condemnation of the repeated Israeli aggressions on the occupied territories, particularly, the military aggression on Gaza in December of last year, which killed more than 1,400 Palestinians, the majority of whom were women and children, as well as the unjustifiable destruction of homes, property and civilian infrastructure facilities," Sheikh Nasser noted.
He also said "we call upon the international community and the Security Council in particular, to assume their responsibilities and take whatever measures needed to stop Israel's violation of international humanitarian law and confront its settlement activities, as well as the policy of collective punishment it imposes on the Palestinian people, through its blockade of Gaza and by restricting the freedom of access and movement of persons in all areas, including the occupied territories, and to immediately halt Israel's settlement activities under unacceptable pretexts.He also voiced Kuwait's wishes to refer to the report of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission, which "clearly proves that the Israeli forces committed war crimes during the brutal aggression on Gaza last year." He said that this represents "a grave violation of international humanitarian law."
"Therefore, our view is that it is incumbent upon the Security Council, and the United Nations to assume the responsibilities they shoulder, to stop these crimes against humanity and punish the perpetrators according to the applicable international laws," HH the premier remarked.In this regard, Sheikh Nasser indicated that "departing from its moral and national responsibilities, as well as its steady position in support of the Palestinian cause, in addition to supporting international efforts and endeavors to improve the living conditions in Gaza, to rebuild what the Israeli aggression on Gaza have destroyed, Kuwait responded by voluntarily pledging to donate $ 200 million, this is over and above its commitments within the context of the League of Arab States to support the Palestinian Authority.
He noted that "Kuwait also took the initiative to respond to the appeal of UNRWA launched in December of last year, and donated the entire amount of the appeal of $ 34 million to cover the costs of the urgently needed relief aid." He added that in this context, "we view that the suffering of the Palestinian people will continue, unless a permanent, just and comprehensive peace is achieved, which must lead to ending the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, as well as a total Israeli withdrawal from all the territories it occupied after June 4, 1967, in implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions, the Road Map and the Arab Peace Initiative.
As for Iraq, Sheikh Nasser said Kuwait "commends the speedy endeavors and efforts exerted by the Iraqi Government to achieve peace and security, as well as prosperity for the Iraqi people." He added that Kuwait also "condemns all acts of terrorism perpetrated in Iraq that aim to destabilize its security and stability and instigates detestable violent sectarianism." He stressed that "to put an end to the so-called sectarian conflict, the importance of resuming the policy of dialogue and national reconciliation emerges, in order to ensure ample participation by all the factions of society in all the phases of the political process, including the upcoming entitlement represented by the parliamentary elections, to be held in the month of January of next year.
Sheikh Nasser affirmed that Kuwait shall "continue to back and support all efforts aiming at assisting Iraq to regain its standing and natural position in its regional and international environments, in order to build a democratic, unified and peaceful Iraq, living in peace with itself and its neighbors, committed to fulfill its obligations as provided by the resolutions of international legitimacy.
The speech also shed light on the conflict over the occupied United Arab Emiratess (UAE) Islands, where HH Sheikh Nasser voiced Kuwait's hope that this conflict will be resolved through "peaceful means," as it calls upon "the friendly Islamic Republic of Iran to resolve this issue through direct brotherly negotiations or resort to the International Court of Justice." He continued saying "the resolution of conflicts and settlement of differences between states particularly in our region, must depend on a set of firm principles, deeply-rooted in international relations, and emanating from the resolutions of international legitimacy, the basis of international law, and if necessary seek a decision from the International Court of Justice, which will preserve the good neighborly relations .He stressed that "these basis and legal principles cannot be overstepped to achieve the self interest of one side at the expense of another, for this does not, in any case, serve good neighborly relations, nor building mutual confidence and therefore affect the peace and stability between the parties, as well as international peace and security.
Sheikh Nasser also recalled in his speech the Security Council Summit held on Thursday, saying "with much interest we have followed the Security Council Summit which was held yesterday addressing one of the most important subjects concerning international peace and security, the subject of nuclear disarmament in order to create a world free of nuclear weapons." "Also, we followed with satisfaction the unanimous adoption of resolution 1887, which sets the stage for a world free of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction. A world that fulfills the hopes of humanity and ensures the safety and prosperity of the world's peoples," he added.HH Sheikh Nasser said that "departing from Kuwait's belief and deep-rooted conviction in the importance and the necessity of the disarmament of all weapons of mass destruction, and declaring the Middle East a region free from nuclear weapons" - he renewed Kuwait's call for "dealing seriously with Israel, the only country in the region that did not join the Non-Proliferation Treaty," and called upon Israel to join the Treaty and subject all its facilities to the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).He added that while Kuwait supports the right of all states to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, "it hopes negotiations between the friendly Islamic Republic of Iran and the IAEA and the concerned countries will continue with a view of reaching a peaceful solution for the Iranian nuclear file, which would dispel the fears and doubts surrounding its nature and purposes." He also voiced hope that there will be a "joint political will to achieve the noble purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, as well as to confront the serious challenges facing our world today.
Sheikh Nasser concluded his speech saying that there is also an "urgent" need to "double the efforts to reject fanaticism, xenophobia, and to continue strengthening the dialogue between the different civilizations and religions as the ideal method for understanding between cultures." "This will create an appropriate environment to consolidate the principle of mutual respect and builds bridges between communities," the premier remarked.
