ShareNEW YORK: His Highness the Amir's representative, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, praised on Thursday the United Nations for tackling "formidable challenges and severe crises". This requires global cooperation not unilateral solutions, he said, speaking at the UN General Assembly 77th session in New York. He also praised the UN's global call to achieve Sustainable Development Goals.
Highlighting these challenges, he said they have included the COVID pandemic, weapons of mass destruction proliferation, terrorism, natural disasters, climate change, poverty and the increasing warnings over food security.
On the crisis in Ukraine, the prime minister stressed Kuwait's unwavering stance in support of the principles of international law and the UN charter in opposition to the use of force, or threats for its use, in resolving conflicts. Kuwait supports UN and global efforts for de-escalation and a ceasefire in order to reach a peaceful resolution to the conflict, he said.
"The experiences of modern history have proven to us that peace, and its related mechanisms of mediation and dialogue, was and will always be the ideal resolution to conflicts, no matter how protracted they are."
On the Middle East crisis, he warned that tensions and instability will remain prevalent in the region so as long as the Palestinian people do not gain their legitimate rights and Israel, as an occupational power, does not stop its ongoing encroachments on international humanitarian law.
"We urge the need for efforts to relaunch negotiations according to a specific timeframe to reach comprehensive and just peace" in accordance with international law and the Arab peace initiative, he said, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with a capital of East Jerusalem along the borders of 1967.
In regards to the Syrian crisis, the prime minister blamed the absence of a "unified global position" on the matter and "foreign intervention" for the protraction of the conflict, whigh enters its 12th year. "This represents one of the most gruesome examples of human suffering," he said, reiterating Kuwait's firm belief that a political resolution to the matter should be the ideal option rather than a military intervention.
On the other regional crisis in Yemen, the Kuwaiti prime minister reiterated his country's welcoming of the UN-mediated truce, under Saudi Arabia's peace initiative, between warring sides. He also called on Iran to take "serious measures" to build trust and dialogue with its Gulf neighbours, based on the respect of sovereignty and non-intervention in internal affairs, and for Tehran to limit tensions and safeguard the security and freedom of marine navigation in Gulf waters. The prime minister went on to mention Kuwait's upcoming parliamentary elections, describing the event as a "democratic celebration."
"The government has provided all means necessary to respond to the needs of its nationals, and resolve their predicaments in accordance with the rule of law," he said, adding that this stems from the belief that aspirations for development may only be achieved through listening to the voices of the people.He concluded by praising Qatar's upcoming plans to host the FIFA 2022 World Cup as an "exceptional success" for the country, considering its accomplishment as the first Arab country to hold the illustrious global footballing event.
