FM underlines commitment by Kuwait to support Africa SDGs

Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled meets Kuwait mission to UNGA meet

NEW YORK, Sept 28, (KUNA): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah affirmed Wednesday on Kuwait’s commitment to support sustainable development goals in Africa, whether through governmental or public cooperation or through institutions affiliated to it, like Kuwait Fund for Arab and Economic Development (KFAED).

The remarks were made in a speech by Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled at the Security Council session on Security and Peace in Africa, under the title “Partnership to promote security and regional peace.”

Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled called for maintaining the Peacekeeping Action Initiative in order to enable peacekeeping missions to be more efficient, better equipped, more secure and more robust, which calls for strong Security Council mandates and sustainable funding, praising the AU’s continued commitment to cover 25 percent of the cost of operations and supporting peace.

The minister stressed that rigorous efforts to respond to challenges to peace and security through preventive diplomacy and mediation should be the first line of defense for conflict prevention, pointing out that in order to achieve lasting peace and sustainable development goals of 2030, the root causes of violence and conflicts must be addressed before they erupt. Consolidating Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled called for consolidating a culture of peace and tolerance through educating children and youth, as well as the concepts of good governance, democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and justice, along with addressing the roots of multiple and intertwined differences.

He stressed on the importance of tripartite cooperation and coordination between the United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU), Arab League, and the Arabian Gulf Council (GCC), on regional peace and security issues.

Participation

“The participation of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as a guest of honor at the African Union summit held in Addis Ababa in 2012, who as the first Arab leader from outside the African Union countries,” he said, adding “showed how important this continent in general and to the African Union in particular.”

The Kuwaiti foreign minister pointed out that Kuwait pledged during the summit to provide soft loans worth one billion dollars in addition to the amount of one billion dollars to invest in infrastructure under the supervision of the General Authority for Investment in addition to the announcement of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah of one million US dollar annual prize to support development research in food, health and education in Africa.

Kuwait is counting on the United Nations and its affiliate organizations to enhance African countries capabilities, and to implement the initiative to end violence and guns in Africa in 2020, which was already highlighted by the Security Council in its resolution 2457/2019 in addition to achieving the agenda of the African Union for 2063, which is consistent with the objectives of development Sustainable Development of the United Nations 2030 in collaboration with donor countries.

Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid concluded by saying Kuwait will continue to improve AU’s ability to embody the vision of peace, progress, prosperity, and prevent and resolve conflicts, safeguard peace and security and achieve stability in the African continent.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled met members of his country’s mission to the 74th UN General Assembly session at the HQ of the permanent mission to the UN in New York on Friday afternoon.

He briefed the senior diplomats on the guidelines and ob

jectives of Kuwait’s foreign policy towards various regional and international issues.

Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled underlined the importance of continuing the country’s prominent role

in various international issues and its outstanding contributions to the UN efforts worldwide.