Late Saudi FM role lauded:

News in Brief

GCC Secretary General Abdullatif Al-Zayani recalled the major role of late Saudi foreign minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal in mustering international support to the Liberation of Kuwait campaign from the Iraqi invasion in 1990.

Al-Faisal played a basic role to defeat the Iraqi aggression and liberate Kuwait “which he loved and sincerely lavished efforts to have it back a free and fully-sovereign country under its legitimate government,” Al-Zayani told a panel session held as part of the international conference held in memory of the late Saudi Prince.

The session was moderated by former Kuwaiti foreign minister Sheikh Dr Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah.

Al-Zayani referred to the diplomatic efforts led by Al-Faisal on the regional and international scenes, in coordination with counterparts from the GCC member states, including His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who then held the portfolio of the foreign ministry.

He stated that Al-Faisal’s method in handling strategic issues, like the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, was based on values and principles the late Prince strongly believed in. These include clinging to political and legal legitimacy, employing international relations and their positive effect, uniting the international community and gaining its support, transparency and continuous coordination with the Gulf diplomacy, the GCC Secretary General told the session.

He recalled the shuttle diplomacy then adopted by the GCC chief diplomats and their visits to world capitals to clarify facts, unify stances and gain support, through a unified discourse.

Al-Zayani concluded by praising the strong will of the Kuwaiti people at those hard days.

The Kuwaiti leadership and people manifested excellent capabilities to counter challenges and crises, and recover rapidly from the impact on the invasion, looking forward to the future, he said. (KUNA)

Al Zayani