DOHA: The Representative of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, stressed on Thursday that failure to bring the Zionist entity, which is an occupying force, to accountability has emboldened it to commit more crimes and expand its aggression, a thing that “we have already warned of and its consequences on the region’s countries.”

He cited the heinous aggression on Lebanon, where the occupying forces have killed hundreds of people and injured thousands in a blatant breach of all international norms and laws, as a clear-cut and unequivocal paradigm in this regard. His Highness reiterated the vehement condemnation and denunciation of such crimes while standing side by side with the Lebanese people against anything that could undermine their country’s sovereignty and stability.

He called on the Asian continent to come up with a decisive and open stance defending justice, human conscience, and the right of the people of Palestine and the region to freedom, dignity, and peace. Regarding the third summit of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), His Highness the Amir’s representative said: “Our summit, held today under the theme ‘Sports Diplomacy’, is considered a significant tool in public diplomacy and some sort of soft power that is able to bring together all peoples, communities, and cultures.”

He underlined that sports are a crucial way of attaining peace and development and contributing to inculcating and disseminating the values of cooperation, tolerance, solidarity, and people-to-people peaceful coexistence. He cited Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup as a significant model of the concept, purposes, and noble goals of sports diplomacy thanks to its eye-catching success in bringing together peoples, cultures, and languages all over the world, as well as in promoting Gulf, Arabic, and Islamic culture.

Looking forward to Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the 2034 FIFA World Cup, he hoped that major regional and international sports gatherings hosted by Asian countries would lead to manifesting the continent’s rich cultural diversity to the entire world. Meanwhile, His Highness the Amir’s Representative emphasized that it is necessary for all Asian countries to work together in an effective and decisive manner in order to address today’s enormous security, political, economic, social, and climate challenges and risks, chiefly including diseases, abject poverty, illiteracy, and unemployment.

However, he said the continent abounds in stupendous human and financial potential and resources that mark a solid ground for the continent’s countries to defeat various challenges and fulfill their people’s expectations and hopes. In this context, he called on Asian countries to capitalize on their geographical, human, and economic potential to achieve the ACD’s six goals of connectivity, science, technology, and innovation; education and human development; food, water, and energy security; culture and tourism; and sustainable resource development.

Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled emphasized that Kuwait, since having joined the ACD, has committed itself to working with the member states to upgrade dialogue to broader horizons by hosting the first summit in 2012, as well as the headquarters of the forum’s general secretariat only out of eagerness to promote pan-Asian cooperation. He concluded by restating Kuwait’s commitment to the principles and goals of the gathering while calling for holding serious and intensive discussions so as to turn the forum into a regional organization that could address swift challenges and crises the Asian continent is facing.

Meanwhile, Representative of His Highness the Amir on Thursday sent a cable of gratitude to the Qatari Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani - upon conclusion of his visit to Doha. His Highness the Crown Prince expressed gratitude for the warm reception accorded to him and his entourage. He affirmed that Qatar’s hosting of the Third Summit of the ACD with participation of top rank officials from the Asian nations bolstered its significant role in the international community. – KUNA