Kuwait's Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah during his meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas

Kuwait keen on supporting Palestinian cause - FM

20/02/2018

NEW YORK-- Kuwait is keen on supporting the Palestinian cause; the principal issue for Arabs and Muslims, said Kuwait's Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah on Tuesday.

"I was honored to meet President Abbas, as we talked about Kuwait's chairmanship of the UN Security Council in February and its efforts to shed light on Arab causes, primarily the Palestinian one. It is considered the earliest file at the UN, a matter that should seize to happen," Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled said in a press release after meeting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas earlier in the day.

"There must be a solution to this case according to a timeline and based on international community provisions," he noted.

"Such provisions include the two-state solution, establishing the Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as capital and as stipulated in the Arab Peace Initiative, all of which are principles the international community should see to implement." The Kuwaiti top diplomat carried on to say, "We are coordinating with our Palestinian brothers regarding the file presented at the Security Council, as well as during activities at the UN.

"The participation of the Palestinian President at the UNSC session (later today) is important in order for the international community to be briefed about latest developments of the Palestinian cause." Meanwhile, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyadh Al-Malki lauded "the State of Kuwait's immensely honorable and supportive stance. If it was not for Kuwait's membership at the Security Council, we would have not been able to come here, and President Abbas would not have been able to attend the session." He voiced Palestine's indebted gratitude to Kuwait's leadership, represented by His Highness the Amir, as well as to the Foreign Minister and permanent delegate to the UN.

"Kuwait worked as hard as it could to provide such historic opportunity for Palestine and its president to attend and participate in this significant session, especially after US President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as capital of Israel." Al-Malki underlined "We realize that Kuwait's position obliges it to allow the Israeli delegation to respond to President Abbas's speech, as it is a Security Council mechanism." Attending President Abbas's meeting were Assistant Foreign Minister and Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled's office director Ambassador Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah, Head of the Kuwaiti Permanent Mission to the UN Ambassador Mansour Al-Otaibi and Assistant Minister for International Organizations' Affairs Minister Delegate Abdullah Al-Hain.

Later today, a meeting on the Palestinian situation will take place. The UNSC will also hold a similar meeting on February 22, which will feature a speech delivered on the behalf of former US President James "Jimmy" Carter.