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Kuwaiti FM’s visit to Lebanon a show of solidarity as he meets with President Aoun, PM Mikati and Speaker

Initiative reflects the distinguished relations between Lebanon and Kuwait,” Lebanese President General Michel Aoun.

Thanks for taking care of Lebanese residing in their second country, Kuwait.” Gen Michel Aoun.

I carried a message about Kuwaiti ... and international measures to build confidence again with Lebanon.” Kuwaiti FM Dr. Sheikh Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah

What we asked for is that Lebanon not be a platform for any verbal or physical aggression.” Dr Sheikh Ahmed Nasser

Everyone’s desire is that Lebanon be stable, secure and strong.” Dr Sheikh Ahmed Nasser

We believe in building the state, which is what our brothers in the GCC countries desire.” Minister of Interior and Municipalities, Judge Bassam Mawlawi.




Kuwaiti FM’s visit to Lebanon a show of solidarity as he meets with President Aoun, PM Mikati and Speaker

24 January 2022

(See Translation in Arabic Section)

Sydney- M E Times Int'l:  After the Kuwaiti Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Sheikh Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah met with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, he met with President Michel Aoun, the Speaker of the House Nabih Berri and Minister of Interior and Municipalities, Judge Bassam Mawlawi. The Middle East Times welcomes the initiative shown by Dr. Sheikh Ahmed Nasser, noting the efforts made by Kuwait as it always stands by Lebanon and feels the pain of the Lebanese as its own. We wish for a positive response and every success for this great initiative.

LEBANON’S President, General Michel Aoun has met with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah at Baabda Palace.

The President told Dr Ahmed Nasser that Lebanon welcomes any Arab move that would restore normal relations between Lebanon and the Gulf states, based on a firm Lebanese desire to preserve best relations between Lebanon and Arab countries.

General Aoun also thanked Dr Al-Sabah for the initiative which he said “reflects the distinguished relations between Lebanon and Kuwait, especially since this initiative enjoys Gulf, Arab and international support with the aim of rebuilding confidence between Lebanon and the Gulf states”.

The President also assured Dr Ahmed Nasser commitment to implementing the Taif Accord and the relevant international, and Arab, resolutions, noting that the ideas contained in the memorandum handed over by the Foreign Minister would be the subject of consultations in announcing the appropriate position.

Gen. Aoun reiterated the strength of Lebanese-Kuwaiti relations, and conveyed his greetings to Kuwaiti Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and Crown Prince Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

The President conveyed Lebanon’s thanks for Kuwait’s permanent stand with Lebanon in all difficult situations in addition to “taking care of Lebanese residing in their second country, Kuwait”.

Dr Al-Sabah conveyed to President Aoun the greetings of the Emir of Kuwait, Crown Prince and the Kuwaiti people, pointing out that his visit coincided with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Lebanon and Kuwait, and the 30th anniversary of the liberation of Kuwait, recalling Lebanon’s position on the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.

The Foreign Minister also presented a memorandum on rebuilding confidence between Lebanon and the Gulf states, reiterating “the non-interference in Lebanese internal affairs and the unwillingness of Lebanon to interfere in the affairs of other countries”.

The Kuwaiti delegation comprised Assistant Foreign Minister for Arab World Affairs, Minister Nasser Sanhat Al-Qahtani; Chargé d’Affairs of Kuwait Abdullah Suleiman Al-Shaheen; Deputy Assistant Foreign Minister for Minister’s Office Affairs Ahmed Abdul Rahman Al-Shuraim; Adviser in the Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Fawaz Abdullah Bouresli, and Second Secretary Salem Ali Abu Hadideh.

The Lebanese side also comprised of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Abdullah Bou Habib; former minister Salim Jreissati, Director-General of the Presidency Dr. Antoine Choucair, and advisers Rafic Shelala, Antoine Constantine and Osama Khashab.

STATEMENT:

After the meeting, Minister Al-Sabah made the following statement:

I had the honour this morning of meeting His Excellency the brotherly President of the Republic of Lebanon.

“I conveyed to him the greetings of His Highness, the Emir of the State of Kuwait, His Highness the Crown Prince, the government and people of Kuwait, and wishes for more security, stability and prosperity for Lebanon.

“I also conveyed the main reason for my visit to Lebanon; I carried a message about Kuwaiti, Gulf, Arab and international measures and ideas to build confidence again with Lebanon.

“All these ideas and proposals are derived, and their basis are the international legitimacy resolutions and the previous resolutions of the League of Arab States.

“Thankfully, I have now conveyed them to His Excellency the President, and they are now in the process of deliberation and study, and, God willing, we will have a response to these proposals soon”.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS:

In response to a question about whether the Gulf states that have taken measures against Lebanon will monitor what is said, that Lebanon would not be a platform for “verbal aggression” the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister replied: “What we asked for is that Lebanon not be a platform for any verbal or physical aggression. We want Lebanon as it has been for more than 73 years: radiant, iconic and a distinctive symbolism in the world and in the Arab Mashreq.

“Lebanon is a place of hope for all, a refuge for intellectuals, artists, writers and all human sciences. The Lebanon we know is not a platform of aggression. This is the main issue in this matter.

“I renew that there is never any tendency to interfere in the internal affairs of Lebanon.  We intend to build trust, and we hope it will be dealt with in a way that is beneficial to all”.

Asked if Kuwait was ready to lead a new dialogue in Lebanon under the title of implementing the Taif Accord, which includes addressing raised concerns, Dr Sheikh Ahmed Nasser replied: “In short, we do not interfere in Lebanon’s internal affairs. In the folds of the question there is the answer: it is only implementing what has been done.”

“It was agreed upon in advance, including the Taif Accord, and if there are some commitments that have not been implemented so far, God willing, by implementing them tangibly, we will reach the goal which concerns everyone”.

Concerning Lebanon’s ability to implement Resolution 1559 in light of clear political division, Minister Al-Sabah said: “This is a matter which concerns the Lebanese themselves, and not something that belongs to Kuwait. But all the decisions of international legitimacy are binding on all countries of the world.

“God willing, Lebanon and all those who are concerned with this particular decision will reach a matter that is compatible with the resolutions of international legitimacy”.

Asked about the truth of what the media agencies reported about his presentation to the Prime Minister with a 10-point paper, and what these points include, Minister Al-Sabah stated: “These are ideas and proposals that were presented .. I mentioned them to His Excellency the President.

“I do not find it useful to discuss these points in the media.  These points are left to the Lebanese officials, and they see whether they want to discuss them in the media or not, but we are waiting for a response”.

Regarding the official invitation he made to Premier Mikati to visit Kuwait, and about the visit of the Lebanese Foreign Minister to Kuwait, in light of a severing of diplomatic relations, the Kuwaiti Minister replied: “Firstly, diplomatic relations with Kuwait were not severed; the ambassador was summoned for consultations.

Secondly, the invitation of the Lebanese Foreign Minister to Kuwait comes through an Arab consultative meeting that will be held at the end of this month in Kuwait, given that Kuwait is now chairing the Council of Foreign Ministers of Arab countries.

“We host nearly 50,000 Lebanese, who are happy in their developmental role, and welcome Lebanese of all levels to visit Kuwait. The foreign minister’s visit is bilateral but mainly as part of the Arab move”.

SPEAKER BERRI

Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri received in Ain al-Tineh the Kuwaiti Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah.

After the meeting, Al-Sabah told reporters that Mr Berri’s visit came within the framework of exchanging ideas on bilateral relations between Kuwait and Lebanon and the challenges they are going through regionally and internationally.

He said the basis of his visit to Lebanon was to establish measures to build confidence again between Lebanon and its regional and international partners.

In response to a question about the timing  of his visit with preparations for the elections and the reluctance of former PM Saad Hariri to participate, he said: “First, there is no interference in Lebanon’s internal affairs, and the Gulf countries do not interfere in Lebanon’s internal affairs, and secondly, the visit does not deviate from the three messages that I conveyed.

“The first message is sympathy, solidarity, synergy and devotion for the brotherly Lebanese people. The second point is the implementation of the policy of disassociation and that Lebanon should not be a platform for any verbal or physical aggression, and the third point is everyone’s desire that Lebanon be stable, secure and strong, whereby the strength of Lebanon is a strength for all Arabs, and this matter becomes a reality through the application of the resolutions of international legitimacy and the Arab resolutions in this field.”

He denied relaying to Speaker Berri any message to Hezbollah, saying: “The visit was only to present the same ideas that I presented to PM Mikati and to President Aoun, then presented to Speaker Berri. Once again it is based on ideas and proposals to build confidence between the countries of the region and Lebanon.”

MINISTER MAWLAWI

Lebanon’s Minister of Interior and Municipalities, Judge Bassam Mawlawi, received a visit by the Kuwaiti Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah, accompanied by the Chargé d’Affairs at Kuwait’s Embassy in Lebanon, Abdallah Sleiman al-Shaheen.

The Kuwaiti official presented the Interior Minister with a Gulf message about the procedures and steps to be taken in order to eliminate disputes.

Mawlawi welcomed the visit and praised Lebanon’s relations with its sisterly countries that are devoted to Lebanon and the Lebanese people.

I confirmed to His Highness and His Excellency the position of Lebanon, and the position of the Ministry of Interior over all matters occurring inside Lebanon which could constitute verbal or physical harm to Kuwait or the rest of the countries of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC),” Mawlawi said.

“I presented all the measures taken in this context, especially with regards to controlling the borders, detecting and controlling drug networks and preventing their smuggling, and also pertaining to the verbal harm that could befall GCC countries and Lebanon.”

Mawlawi confirmed that Lebanese laws  would apply and emphasized the utmost commitment to the interest of Lebanon, particularly in terms of preventing any evil or harm that could befall  Arab countries that have demonstrated their support for Lebanon historically and during crises.

“These are our duties and we believe in building the state, which is what our brothers in the GCC countries desire. As they have always helped us, they will help us in building the state,” he said.

In turn, the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister said: “I was pleased to meet my brother, His Excellency the Minister of Interior in Lebanon and outlined matters, the first of which is related to Lebanon as being the distinguished icon of human civilization in the Arab Orient.

“Lebanon is a centre and platform for culture, literature, art and science; this is not achieved through Lebanon being exploited by any party to carry out any aggression, verbal or physical act, and His Excellency assured me in this regard and reviewed the actual measures taken by the Lebanese authorities and his personal endeavour to put an end to these incidents so as not to be repeated in the future.

We are appreciative of this matter, and there is a responsibility on the Lebanese state, and God willing, we will see more actions in this respect,” Dr Al-Sabah continued.

He commended Minister Mawlawi’s efforts especially during the past four months in addressing gaps in security fields and finding solutions to them, which was appreciated by the Gulf countries.




 














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