PM: Kuwait Amir “captain of the ship”

His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah on Sunday, addressing a fresh batch of new diplomats, said “Ahead of you are many missions to take on, then sail off to a brighter future for Kuwait.” Praising Almighty Allah for a leadership that believes in its “sons’ and daughters’ potential”, His Highness the Premier stressed that the 1962 Constitution was the offspring of such belief.

The ceremony at Saud Al-Nasser Al-Sabah Diplomatic Institute saw the graduation of 8th and 9th batches, with Minister of Foreign affairs Abdullah Al-Yahya, his deputy Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and senior ministry officials attending.

The government, noted Sheikh Dr. Mohammad, is working on manifesting; on the ground, vision of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah of a “just, safe and sustainable” country, with His Highness as “captain of the ship.” Hence were His Highness’s recent visits to GCC countries that held historic, geographic and strategic inevitabilities, noted the prime minister while highlighting the economy dossier among member states as well.

Minister Al-Yahya congratulated the newly appointed diplomats on joining the diplomatic corp. Al-Yahya witnessed oath-taking of 19 diplomats who were promoted to the diplomatic and consular corps under Article 21/1962 after their completion of the training and academic program at the Diplomatic Institute.

The Minister expressed his trust in the new diplomats’ qualifications, hoping they would dedicate their careers to the benefit and representation of Kuwait and its people abroad.

He advised them to abide by the set rules and laws, national values, and basic principles of Kuwait’s diplomacy, explaining that they might encounter potential challenges on their diplomatic journeys especially during the current global and regional unrest.

Al-Yahya reiterated his well wishes and success to the new diplomats under the wise leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

Foreign relations

The Prime Minister noted that the economic file was present in His Highness’s meetings with the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the discussion of projects that link the interests of the Gulf states to each other. He pointed out that Kuwait’s foreign relations are based on three dimensions: historical inevitability, geographical inevitability, and strategic inevitability.

As for historical inevitability, it consists of three dimensions. Our history is part of the unity of the Gulf Cooperation Council, through the recent visits that His Highness began in Saudi Arabia, then Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, and the Emirates. It was also agreed to study the construction of a railway network linking Riyadh, Kuwait, and Qatar, and the Duqm station in Oman.

He explained that “geographical inevitability lies in the fact that neighboring countries must deal with each other in a cohesive manner. We have Iraq in the north, Saudi Arabia in the west, and Iran in the east. Therefore, there is cooperation with these geographically close countries.”

He expressed his hope that the Foreign Minister will establish a unit for strategic studies to monitor developments in the geographical neighborhood of our countries to ensure continuous communication with neighboring countries.

A better tomorrow

He described his sponsorship and attendance of the graduation ceremony of diplomats as “returning home”, noting that “the Saud Al-Nasser Institute is a factory for men and women who will sail the ship of Kuwait, which has spread its sails to sail to a wider and better future, led by its captain, His Highness the Amir.” He addressed the Kuwaiti people, saying, “We are heading towards a better tomorrow, God willing.”

Improving living standards

In a press statement after the ceremony, the Prime Minister explained that “the government is continuing its efforts to improve the living standards of citizens.” He explained that “these efforts focus on two parts: the first is related to the material aspect and restoring confidence in the psyche of the Kuwaiti citizen that there is serious work being done by the state and that the state is capable of combating all manifestations of deviation and imbalance, foremost of which is combating corruption, forgery, and crime.”

His Highness mentioned ongoing discussions regarding the “good loan” program, aimed at providing financial support to retirees. However, he acknowledged the need to ensure the program’s sustainability and the well-being of the Social Security Institution’s pension funds. Recognizing the upcoming elections, the Prime Minister suggested that these reforms may be best addressed through collaboration between the new parliament and the government.

The Prime Minister said in his speech to the graduates, “We are launching from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, the gathering and protecting embrace, the support, the basis, and the foundation, to the wider field, which is the Arab world, and our belonging to it, and then the wider space, which is the world with its regional and international organizations.” He called for building bridges of cooperation between the West and the East.

Saud Al-Nasser Al-Sabah Diplomatic Institute: A factory for diplomats

Assistant Foreign Minister for Saud Al-Nasser Al-Sabah Diplomatic Institute Affairs Nasser Al-Subaieh, on behalf of the institute’s members, expressed his thanks and appreciation to His Highness the Prime Minister for sponsoring and honoring the graduation ceremony of the new diplomats of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He said that “the institute has qualified 432 diplomats, including 286 males and 146 females, which is equivalent to 62% of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ diplomats currently. It also held 72 training courses that benefited 1060 trainees, and organized 7 (Advisor Promotion) courses that were passed by 164 advisors. In addition to this, 30 external training courses were prepared for the Ministry’s members, which benefited 312 members, and two courses for transferring from the civil service cadre to the diplomatic service cadre, which were passed by 150 diplomats. Moreover, 29 memoranda of understanding were signed with different countries and institutions around the world.”

Al-Subaieh added that “all of this has given the Saud Al-Nasser Al-Sabah Diplomatic Institute a distinctive mark, making it an important edifice for the members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and a beacon that has attracted the attention of diplomats and specialists from brotherly and friendly countries.”