Kuwait urges diplomats to convey Kuwait’s shining image as a tolerant and great country.
Acclaimed world over as a doyen of international diplomacy, His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah has said that the bright image of Kuwait, which works in partnership with the international community to promote peace among nations and partnerships with brotherly and friendly countries for the building and development of societies, needs to be conveyed and reinforced.
In his inspiring keynote address which he delivered after inaugurating the Seenth Conference of Heads of Kuwait Diplomatic Missions on Monday, 11 March, 2013, the Amir urged envoys to promote the country’s shining image on the international stage.
“You are invited to convey to the world the brilliant image of Kuwait — the tolerant and great country — and the ambitions of its people.”
The three-day conference was attended by 124 ambassadors and heads of Kuwait’s diplomatic missions abroad and headed by His Excellency the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.
His Highness the Amir laid emphasis at the opening session of the conference for a broad global outlook and a clear vision for Kuwait’s future. “A vigorous diplomatic and media campaign to show the real and bright image of Kuwait as a home of security and peace, enjoying prosperity and stability is needed”, the Amir noted that Kuwait stands by its historical democratic roots and traditional values, while moving forward with the aim of taking its rightful place among leading nations of the world.
With over four decades dedicated to developing and strengthening Kuwait’s relations with the rest of the world, His Highness the Amir is internationally acclaimed for his excellent diplomatic engagement. It was with this wealth of experience, the Amir outlined the path the country’s diplomats needed to pursue in order to achieve and protect the higher interests of the state.
“Kuwait’s diplomacy is the first line of defense of state security and interests”, His Highness said and called on diplomats to embody the state’s policy and care for the interests of its people, in their interactions on the international stage. Pointing out that Kuwait pays due attention to the empowerment of women and protection of their rights, the Amir said, “Kuwait growing attention to foster women rights and their role in the society is visible everywhere.”
Adding that one of the main objectives of Kuwait’s diplomacy is focused to maintain world security and stability, as well as reach sustainable development of societies, the Amir said, “Kuwait is effectively contributing to various international efforts, which are aimed at resolving disputes threatening world peace and countering terrorism. Kuwait is also taking part in efforts to fight poverty, diseases and to meet the shortage of food, water and energy, as well as achieve sustainable development and investment in people.”
Since its independence Kuwait has been a responsible member of the international community, contributing greatly to the service of humanity by actively participating and benevolently contributing to the various international bodies. His Highness citied Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development’s (KFAED) loans and grants as well as the Kuwait’s donations to other international funds as clear examples of Kuwait’s effective role in financing development projects in the four corners of the globe. His Highness the Amir also mentioned the recent Asian Cooperation Dialogue Summit hosted by Kuwait as an example of state’s eagerness to buttress cooperation with Asian and world nations.
On the importance of unity among the Gulf Cooperation Council member states, His Highness stated, “The rapid developments in our region and the challenges we face today leaves no room for doubt about the indispensability of joint Gulf action and that needs more work to bolster and expand to cover all domains. You have to show, through diplomatic work, the solidity and unity of the Gulf stances as well as Kuwait’s effective role in tackling Arab, Muslim, regional and international issues and causes.”
Urging the envoys to convey to the world the economic and development progress which Kuwait has achieved, the Amir pointed, “You have to acquaint the world with the economic-related legislative reforms and the new package of mega development projects which Kuwait is embarking on.”
The Amir also asked the diplomats to help transfer the best economic and renewable energy practices in the world to Kuwait, “through your presence in different countries across the world, you have to transfer the world’s best practices in diversifying state income resources and using renewable energy to Kuwait.”His Highness lauded the major successes and distinguished performance of Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry under Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and wished the conference great success.
Concluding his address, the Amir said, “The conference serves as a golden platform for diplomats to meet with senior officials at the foreign ministry and other state bodies to exchange points of view, study the challenges obstructing their efforts and find best ways to upgrade the efficiency of Kuwait’s diplomacy to serve the higher interests of our dear homeland.”
Speaking at the conference, His Excellency Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid expressed, gratitude to His Highness the Amir for his sponsorship of the conference. He also thanked His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and the National Assembly Speaker Ali Fahad Al-Rashid for their participation in the opening session of the conference.
Describing His Highness the Amir’s speech as a clear roadmap for Kuwait diplomats, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister urged diplomats to bolster the country’s status on the international arena. The Foreign Minister added that the conference was a golden platform for diplomats to get comprehensive information about the new developments at home and to unify the state’s stances on developments in the international arena. The minister emphasized that the main goal of the ministry’s diplomatic work was to ensure Kuwait’s security, stability, and prosperity, guided by His Highness the Amir’s wise directives.
Pointing out that since the Sixth Conference of Heads of Kuwait Diplomatic Missions, which was held in 2008, Kuwait opened 22 new diplomatic missions abroad, taking the total tally of foreign missions to 98, the top diplomat added, “Currently there were 124 foreign diplomatic missions or representative offices for foreign countries and international agencies in Kuwait.” The minister said this large number of foreign missions attested to the great interest that nations around the world placed in developing relations with Kuwait.
The conference program included several lectures related to Kuwait’s foreign policies on the regional and international fronts, as well as talks on social, political and economic issues delivered by eminent national personalities representing the state’s institutions, including His Excellency Ali Fahad Al-Rashed, the Speaker of the National Assembly and His Excellency Hani Abdul Aziz Hussein, Minister of Oil, who delivered a special lecture on ‘Energy and the Challenges of the Future.’ Diplomats attending the conference had the opportunity to interact with one another and hold important discussions with high-ranking officials at the Foreign Ministry, including His Excellency the Minister and His Excellency Khaled Suleiman Al-Jarallah, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The conference ended with several recommendations, including allowing heads of diplomatic missions to issue exceptional entry visas for the purpose of bolstering bilateral ties with the country they work in. And, to hold an annual conference for heads of Kuwaiti diplomatic missions at the regional level, as well as holding a conference of all heads of diplomatic missions in Kuwait every two years.
His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah hosted a luncheon, on behalf of His Highness the Amir, for the heads of Kuwaiti diplomatic missions abroad at which he emphasized the values of democracy, freedom, justice, and equality embodied by the nation’s constitution and upheld by Kuwait’s rulers. Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad expressed Kuwait’s confidence in their abilities to work with nations and international organizations to reach the goals of achieving a just, secure and stable world that develops together in peace and prosperity.
On the sidelines of the conference many participants said that every word in His Highness the Amir’s address was etched with the idiom of golden diplomacy, “We go back enriched with the wisdom and clear directives,” they said.
-Special Report
