French Ambassador hails Kuwait’s effective diplomacy ahead of Gulf Summit
His Excellency Olivier Govin stated that Kuwait’s presidency of the Gulf summit will be highly effective, thanks to its well-known role as a stabilizing and mediating force in the region, its skilled diplomacy, and its strong commitment to pluralism and the peaceful resolution of conflicts.
• His Excellency Olivier Govin, the French Ambassador to Kuwait, stated the military partnership between France and Kuwait plays a key role in their bilateral relations, highlighting that the defense agreement signed in 1992 is the oldest of its kind between the two countries in the Gulf.
• Ambassador Govin stressed that France’s diplomatic priority regarding Gaza and Lebanon is a permanent ceasefire and cessation of hostilities, which would pave the way for a diplomatic solution and address the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
• France remains a favored destination for Kuwaiti travelers. Last year, the consulate processed 42,000 visa applications, and the visa rejection rate for Kuwaiti applicants was very low, at just 1.43% in 2023.
His Excellency Olivier Govin, the French Ambassador to Kuwait, commended the country’s adept diplomacy and its vital role in addressing key issues on both regional and international stages, as reported by Al Qabas newspaper.
“I am pleased that Kuwait will host the next Gulf summit, and I am confident that its presidency will be highly effective, thanks to its well-known role as a stabilizing and mediating force in the region, its skilled diplomacy, and its strong commitment to pluralism and the peaceful resolution of conflicts,” Ambassador Govin told Al-Qabasnewspaper in his first meeting with a Kuwaiti outlet since taking office in the country.
“France and Kuwait share these values and principles, as well as a commitment to regional peace and stability. Our two countries also collaborate in providing humanitarian assistance in areas such as Gaza, Lebanon, and Sudan,” he added.
“Because both France and Kuwait are committed to multilateralism, we support reforms to make the multilateral system more representative. At the recent UN General Assembly in New York, both France and Kuwait showcased their shared positions on these issues,” the ambassador said.
He continued that “France believes expanding the Security Council is essential, with a structure that balances increased representation and effective decision-making. We propose expanding the Security Council to about 25 members to achieve this balance. Additionally, France, together with Mexico, has launched an initiative to regulate the use of the veto. This initiative calls for the voluntary and collective suspension of the veto in cases of mass atrocities, an idea now supported by 106 countries. We renew our call for all countries, especially the permanent members of the Security Council, to join this initiative.”
France, Kuwait military partnership plays a vital role in bilateral ties
Ambassador Govin stressed that the military partnership between France and Kuwait plays a key role in their bilateral relations, highlighting that the defense agreement signed in 1992 is the oldest of its kind between the two countries in the Gulf.
He emphasized the strength of the ties between the two countries’ armed forces, noting that following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait and the subsequent liberation war in 1990 and 1991, relations between the two nations grew closer due to their joint alliance and combat experience. These strong ties continue to this day within the French military.
He continued: “Our armed forces share a close working relationship, recalling the visit of French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu to Kuwait in 2023. Our cooperation continues to expand, including military procurement, high-level exchanges, and joint exercises such as ‘The Pearl of the West.’”
The ambassador expressed admiration for the Kuwaiti military personnel who speak French, saying: “We recently celebrated Armistice Day on November 11, and I was impressed by the number of Kuwaiti military personnel fluent in French, particularly in the Navy, many of whom have trained in France.” He added, “This relationship of mutual trust, supported by deep personal ties and a shared history, is one we aim to further develop and expand.”
Speaking about the situation in the Middle East, Govinstressed that France’s diplomatic priority regarding Gaza and Lebanon is a permanent ceasefire and cessation of hostilities, which would pave the way for a diplomatic solution and address the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
“All hostages must be released immediately, and we strongly condemn the repeated Israeli strikes on civilian infrastructure, which represent serious violations of the Geneva Conventions. France condemns and is particularly concerned about strikes on hospitals in the northern enclave, which are under evacuation orders, while still sheltering critically ill patients,” he stated.
He emphasized the need to lift the blockade on northern Gaza and reopen all crossings to ensure the safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid. He expressed France’s deep concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis, where the risk of famine is imminent, and warned that any forced population displacement would be a grave violation of international law.
“In the West Bank and East Jerusalem, France calls on Israel to halt its illegal settlement expansion and end settler violence,” he concluded.
Two-state solution
Regarding the Middle East peace process, Ambassador Govin stated that France’s position has been clear and consistent, as it continues to work towards a two-state solution, with both states living side by side in peace and security. He emphasized that the Palestinian people’s aspirations to establish a state are legitimate.
“France has consistently supported this goal, including voting in favor of Palestine’s membership in the United Nations. We believe the time has come to achieve a comprehensive political settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the two-state solution, which is the only viable path to achieving both security and the legitimate desire of the Palestinian people to establish a state,” he said.
Stability of Lebanon
Regarding the situation in Lebanon, ambassador Govinstated that preserving infrastructure, protecting civilians, and adopting an immediate ceasefire are of paramount importance. He noted that France condemns Israeli military actions targeting UNIFIL positions and insists that the United Nations play its full role in southern Lebanon to ensure the safe return of displaced civilians to their homes.
He stressed that Lebanon urgently needs the full implementation of UN Resolution 1701 to achieve long-term sustainable peace that respects the security of both Israel and Lebanon, and reaffirmed France’s commitment to mobilizing international support.
France’s priorities in Lebanon
- Immediate and permanent ceasefire.
- Protection of infrastructure and civilian lives.
- Safe return of displaced civilians to their homes.
- Full implementation of United Nations Resolution 1701.
France’s support for UNRWA
Ambassador Govin pointed out that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) is currently facing an existential crisis. He expressed France’s deep regret over the recent passage of two laws by the Israeli parliament aimed at banning UNRWA’s activities in Israel.
“We urge Israel to refrain from criminalizing the work of the agency and to respect its international obligations to UNRWA and the United Nations. France has reaffirmed its support for UNRWA, increasing its contribution to 38 million euros for 2024,” he said.
French Consulate processed 42,000 visas for Kuwaitis
Ambassador Govin expressed his happiness that France remains a favored destination for Kuwaiti travelers, noting that last year, the consulate processed 42,000 visa applications.
He added, “To facilitate travel for Kuwaiti citizens, we introduced the ‘Cascade’ system, which is available exclusively to Kuwaiti citizens for short-term tourism. This system grants a five-year multiple-entry visa upon submission of the first application.”
He pointed out that the visa rejection rate for Kuwaiti applicants is very low, at just 1.43% in 2023. Most rejection cases occurred due to applications that did not align with the intended destination within the Schengen Area. He emphasized that applicants should complete visa procedures at the consulate of the country where they plan to spend the majority of their stay.
International pledge to support Lebanon
The French ambassador praised the tangible results achieved by the international conference organized by France on October 24, in cooperation with the United Nations, in Paris. The conference aimed to support Lebanon’s sovereignty and its people.
In response to the United Nations’ call, participating countries pledged over $1 billion in aid, including $800 million for humanitarian relief, $200 million to support Lebanese security forces, and France’s pledge of 100 million euros along with 100 tons of humanitarian supplies.
He also referred to the call for a ceasefire in Lebanon, where the ongoing conflict has resulted in significant casualties, injuries, and displacement. At the political level, the conference emphasized the need for the election of Lebanon’s president to restore the country’s political institutions.
