Amir says Arab-Islamic-US summit boosts cooperation
Sheikh Sabah thanks Trump for meeting GCC leaders, invites him to Kuwait
The Arab-Islamic-US summit stresses the need of further American and Islamic cooperation in the face of mounting challenges, HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah said yesterday. Addressing the first-ever Arab-Islamic-US summit to take place on Saudi soil, the Amir noted that the meeting was a testament to the Islamic world’s eagerness to stave off the growing threat of terrorism, which has marred the sacrosanct image of the Islamic faith.
The Amir pointed out that the summit takes place amid a trying time for the region and will help exonerate Islamic nations from accusations of sponsoring terrorism. On the summit, the Amir said it represents a genuine opportunity for Islamic nations to work closely with the US in efforts to exterminate the scourge of terrorism, which in turn, leads to positive ripple effects.
Meanwhile, HH the Amir noted that the summit could prove to be a launchpad for productive cooperation between the US and Islamic nations, which will ultimately lead to the defeat of terrorism. Moreover, the Amir cited numerous measures taken by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations to keep the forces of extremism at bay and foster a spirit of amity and goodwill. Sheikh Sabah highlighted the summit as a vociferous message of determination and strength, saying that efforts to fight extremism will remain firm and unyielding. He said that he was hopeful the monumental meeting would address common concerns, chief among them is to have lasting peace in the Middle East.
Earlier, Sheikh Sabah expressed his satisfaction and appreciation for the visit to the Saudi Arabia by US President Donald Trump and meeting with GCC leaders after being elected president. At the joint US-GCC Summit in Riyadh, the Amir said that “we applaud such initiative, which underscores the depth of relations between the United States and the GCC countries, and reflects the strategic partnership between us and the United States’ commitment to the security and stability of the region”.
The Amir added that events in Yemen pose a threat to security and stability in the region, especially Saudi Arabia, considering its long borders with Yemen and the continuation of Houthi attacks on it, which “requires us to preserve the sanctity of the kingdom’s borders with all our capabilities, and we do not deny here the urgent need for help from our allies topped by the United States of America, as the conflict is not only with Yemen, but there is an outside party that provides them with weapons and money to kill the people of Yemen and neighboring countries”.
“There will be no solution except by political means and pressure on the warring parties to return to the negotiating table,” HH the Amir added.
He said it is worth mentioning that Kuwait hosted Yemeni peace consultations for more than three months, but unfortunately they did not produce any positive results, but things became more complicated as a result of external interventions.
“The deteriorating situations in Syria force us to move as quickly as possible to end this disaster. We believe that the United States of America has a great role in putting an end to this conflict while at the same time we appreciate its efforts in this regard,” the Amir pointed out. With regards to the Middle East peace process, its stalemate underscores the need for a breakthrough in this issue, as this alleviates tension in the region, which is the cause of all the negative repercussions in the region, the Amir said.
Sheikh Sabah noted that in this regard, “we call on the United States, being the only country capable of exerting pressure on the Palestinian and Israeli sides, to find a just and comprehensive solution”. “We believe that the relations between states of the region must be based on the basic rules of international law, foremost of which is respect for the sovereignty and systems of states and non-interference in their internal affairs under any pretext and the deepening of good-neighborliness,” he said.
“In this context, we seek to achieve full commitment to these bases on Gulf-Iranian relations, and we hope that the new Iranian presidency will embody these foundations in order to achieve security and stability in the region,” HH the Amir affirmed. He said that “while we appreciate what our alliance is doing in the face of terrorism, we are still being called upon to exert more effort and cooperation to eliminate Daesh (IS) as a priority for the world to enjoy security and peace.”
“The achievements of the coalition countries and the US-led forces to liberate Mosul and the city of Raqqa reflect this cooperation and coordination,” he added, pointing out that in this context, “we stress that the elimination of Daesh, its ideologies and policies in the region necessitates the continuation of the collective international confrontation and eliminate the economic and social environment that feeds it, and that will only be achieved by providing sustainable development and improving social justice”. “With this new era, we look forward to working together to strengthen our strategic partnership in all its dimensions, so that together we can face the challenges that surround our region and our world”, the Amir concluded.
HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah also paid a visit yesterday to Trump in his residence in the Saudi capital. The Amir congratulated Trump on winning the US presidency, saying he looks forward to taking his country’s ties with the US to new heights. Moreover, the Amir underscored the US president’s historic visit to Saudi Arabia, thanking Trump for his eagerness to meet with leaders of Arab and Islamic nations. On a related note, the Amir extended an invitation to the US president to visit Kuwait. —- KUNA