Kuwait marks 11th death anniversary of ‘Amir of Hearts’
‘Amir of Hearts’
After 11 years have passed since the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad AlJaber Al-Sabah passed away; Kuwaitis still recall the deeds and achievements of the ‘Amir of Hearts’ who spent his life serving his country. Sheikh Jaber, who passed away on January 15, 2006 after being at the helm for 28 years, was the 13th ruler of Kuwait, and the third Amir during the state’s constitutional era that began with the signing of the constitution on November 11, 1962 by the late Amir Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah.
Since he took over the reign in 1977, the late Amir, known to the people as “Abu Mubarak”, led Kuwait to development and progress on all levels, gaining the country significant political and economic weight on the world arena. He was so eager to establish balanced bilateral relations with the world. Though Abu Mubarak’s years in office witnessed various hardships and major events, he managed through his wisdom and long political experience to overcome all crises, leading the country to safety.
Assassination attempt
Sheikh Jaber devoted most of his life to the nation and the Kuwaiti people, and survived a terrorist assassination attempt on May 25, 1985. After the incident, Sheikh Jaber addressed the people, saying that despite the attempt on his life, “Kuwait will remain” and that was the “most important fact.” For him, youth was the “renewable current in a river called Kuwait” and a source of power that will never dry up.
Based on this view, Kuwait youth were given remarkable attention and care. In 1992, the Public Authority for Youth and Sports was founded and entrusted with caring for the affairs of the Kuwaiti young people and promoting their physical and mental capabilities.
By the same token, Kuwaiti women were offered full support. In 1999, the late Amir issued a decree giving women citizens’ full political support. Kuwait, though a small country, continued to develop within the political and economic spheres until it was hit by another tragedy in 1990. Sheikh Jaber’s long experience, sagacity, and relentless efforts to liberate his nation with aid from the international community garnered Kuwait its freedom.
Following the liberation, Kuwait carried on with the march of development thanks to a sagacious ruler and the support of the Kuwaiti people to their leadership. On June 19, 1991, the late Amir established the Martyrs’ Bureau at the Amiri Diwan, to care for the families of Kuwaitis who were martyred during the brutal invasion.
Gulf Cooperation Council
On the political level, Sheikh Jaber was keen on bolstering efforts amongst nations of the Gulf, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was born of his wish to consolidate cooperation amongst the Arab nations in the region. Through his belief that the GCC was a “beacon” of true solidarity amongst Arab nations, Sheikh Jaber always made it clear that developing the council’s mechanism was paramount for the future of Gulf States.
In the 1996 GCC Doha Summit, he proposed the formation of a 30-member consultative council to provide the GCC leadership with proposals likely to promote the process of decision making. Under the late Amir, Islamic causes were always given priority on Kuwait’s agenda.
Sheikh Jaber established the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) that was launched on December 31, 1961. He was chairman of board of directors of this first institution in the Middle East that offered financial support to development efforts not only in the Arab world but in many other developing countries as well.
Also, in the capacity of Kuwait’s Presidency of the Organization of Islamic Summit (OIC) - later Organization of Islamic Cooperation - Sheikh Jaber addressed the 43rd session of the UN General Assembly in the following year, proposing measures to ease the pressures on developing and underdeveloped states through the formation of a just world economic system . He then proposed dropping debts due on poor countries.
In 1995, ‘The Amir of Hearts’ was chosen as the humanitarian personality of the year in a poll conducted by a London-based media institution, amongst five million Arabs, in recognition of his philanthropic initiatives and efforts around the globe.
Leading Kuwait to safety
The late Amir Sheikh Jaber managed to lead Kuwait to safety amid huge challenges thanks to his vision, sagacity and prudence, said Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah. “Despite the high winds and enormous challenges that swept the Middle East over the past decades, Sheikh Jaber weathered the storm and led Kuwait to safety. His preoccupation was Kuwait and the Kuwaiti people, seeking a nation that enjoys safety, security, progress and prosperity,” the minister said.
He lauded Sheikh Jaber’s vision and wisdom at the face of external challenges and crises, keeping Kuwait away from regional and international conflict which brought the country distinctive worldwide reputation.
The “Amir of Hearts,” God rest his soul, adopted a policy of openness and established strong relations with most world countries, which helped realize the expectations of the Kuwaiti people, Sheikh Salman said. He highlighted the late Amir’s exploits and achievements that were extended to each and every field, creating of Kuwait an effective and influential country worthy of the world’s respect and appreciation.
The minister referred to Sheikh Jaber’s initiatives and efforts in support of development in the Arab and Muslim countries, embodied in establishing the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) that was launched on December 31, 1961. The wise policy adopted by the late Amir, and the sincere efforts by His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah AlSalim Al-Sabah (God rest his soul) and the present His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who was then foreign minister, led to the liberation of Kuwait from the Iraqi brutal invasion of 1990.
He said that the Sheikh Jaber AlAhmad Cultural Centre (JACC), inaugurated in October 2016, was established in honor of Sheikh Jaber and in recognition of the message of civilization and the cultural and intellectual openness he believed in. —KUNA