BRUSSELS: EU High Representative Josep Borrell said Tuesday that the 27-member bloc is ready to help and support the territorial integrity of Kuwait. "We are also following with the greatest attention the ruling by the Iraqi Supreme Federal Court on the 2012 maritime agreement with Kuwait. I had the opportunity to discuss that with my Kuwait fellow minister (Kuwait's Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Al Sabah)," he said, in his opening speech to the EU-GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) Joint Council and Ministerial meeting in Muscat, Oman.

"Both Kuwait and Iraq are privileged EU partners, and we want to see the issue solved, and we stand ready to help and support the territorial integrity of Kuwait," he said. Borrell's speech was carried live by the EU's audiovisual service, EBS. Referring to the current dramatic situation in Palestine, the EU's foreign policy chief said, "The priority now is to stop the violence, to de-escalate, to protect civilians, and to release all hostages."

He noted that together with the Arab League, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan, "we started a joint initiative to help revitalize the two-state solution." This tragic event in Palestine is a wake-up call for the international community to engage to find a solution.

The support of our friends in stopping violence is vital, he said. After the EU adopted the strategy for the Gulf last year, Borrell said, "We Europeans are here today to take stock of the progress made in our cooperation, but mostly to commit to working together in more strategic areas." The EU is ready to support regional-led efforts to support the security challenges in the Gulf, he added.- KUNA