Turkey pins high hopes on HH PM visit
Official visit starts Wed
ANKARA, Sept 11, (KUNA): A number of prominent Turkish figures said on Monday that the prospective visit to Turkey by His Highness the Premier Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah on Wednesday is of great significance and Turkish officials pin great hopes on outcomes of such visit on bilateral relations.
Turkish researcher for regional affairs, Ibrahim Abak stressed the importance of the official visit by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah to Turkey from Sept 13 to 16.
In an interview with KUNA, Abak said that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described Kuwait as one of the most stable, safest and prosperous countries in the region, stressing the strong and solid relations between the two nations.
He added that Turkey needs to have such friendly countries in the region in order to establish security, stability, and relations based on common interests without conflicts, especially in the last two decades when the region became a scene of conflicts and wars. He pointed to the visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to Turkey last March and the visit of the Turkish President to Kuwait in May and July, which confirmed that the two countries have great potential to develop their relations in various fields.
Abak also recalled the visit of Kuwait’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Mohammed Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah to Turkey in August, confirming the high-level talks and strong ties.
He highlighted the political relations between the two countries, which derive their power from shared history, culture and values are at an exemplary level.
He pointed out that Turkey voiced full support to Kuwaiti mediation efforts to defuse the Gulf crisis, stressing that Turkey’s efforts is complementary to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s efforts.
He said that Kuwait International Airport’s new main passenger terminal is the largest tender secured by a Turkish company, Limak Holding, abroad in a single package; it is a new symbol of the friendship and goodwill between Turkey and Kuwait, he added.
Relations
For his part, Secretary General of the Turkish-Arab Dialogue Forum Ershad Hurmuzlu said Kuwait has been the center of relations and interests of the Turkish state and people.
He stressed that His Highness the Amir’s visit to the United States and meeting US President Donald Trump last Thursday attests to the depth of Kuwaiti efforts to defuse tensions in numerous regions.
Moreover, Chairman of the Turkish-Kuwaiti Friendship Committee Mekael Arsalan on his part stressed the importance of the official visit by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah to Turkey from Sept 13 to 16.
Arslan said in an interview with Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that the Turkish-Kuwaiti friendship relations were ancient and date back to early years of Kuwait independence, pointing out that the recent period witnessed an exchange of many visits between senior officials of the two countries.
He added that the visit of His Highness the Premier to Turkey which starts next Wednesday falls within the framework of both countries’ eagerness to foster their bilateral relations, recalling the many high-level visits between both countries’ senior officials.
He praised Kuwait’s efforts in humanitarian work, especially those pertinent to sheltering Syrian refugees in Turkey and the establishment of Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Village aimed at protecting Syrian refugees in the southern part of the country which included 1,248 houses.
He also pointed to the Humanitarian Leader Village in Van city eastern Turkey that was erected to be a safe haven for the victims of the earthquake that struck in 2011 which included 64 units.
In this regard, Arslan pointed out that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan bestowed upon His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah with the highest Medal in recognition of his great role in pushing forward the bilateral relations and to his outstanding humanitarian contributions.
He pointed out that the relations between Ankara and Kuwait witnessed a remarkable development in many fields, especially economic ones, pointing out that there are 280 companies funded by Kuwaiti capital operating in Turkey, whereas seven Turkish companies are now operating in Kuwait.
Arslan said that the volume of trade exchange between the two countries amounted to $1.287 billion last year, adding that the volume of Turkish exports to Kuwait amounted to $431 million, while imports amounted to $856 million.