Kuwait played crucial role in Yemen crisis: Sheikh Ahmed
Amir receives outgoing UN Special Envoy for Yemen
KUWAIT: Kuwait played a pivotal role in enabling Yemeni parties reach ‘strategic framework’ for a settlement in the war-torn nation, said the visiting UN Special Envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Sheikh Ahmed yesterday. Sheikh Ahmed, whose mission in Kuwait marked end of his tenure, made the assertion after he was received by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah at Seif Palace in an audience attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.
“I was deeply honored with the meeting with His Highness the Amir,” the resigning envoy said. “In fact, this is a grand occasion because I have come at the end of my mandate to express to him in person my appreciation and sentiments of endearment. As you know the references we had been talking about for a solution in Yemen dated back to the period we had spent in Kuwait.”
Marathon negotiations
He was alluding to the summer of 2016 when Kuwait hosted marathon negotiations among the Yemeni parties under the UN aegis. Although there was concord on some issues, the warring factions failed to reach a fundamental and viable settlement to the crisis. “Kuwait had played a very significant role in proposing ideas and working out a strategic framework (for a settlement) .. We had actually approached a solution however as you might have known, some Yemeni parties stood in our way while seeking a final solution. Nevertheless, this visit is a personal credit for His Highness the Amir for his role.”
Various quarters, namely the UN, have affirmed His Highness’ good-will role and has designated him as Humanitarian Leader. His Highness the Amir has played mediation role for settling various conflicts across the world in general and the region in particular.
Sheikh Ahmed revealed that he would address the Security Council for the last time on February 27. “I came to meet His Highness and listen to his advices,” he said. “Again I re-affirm my deep admiration toward His Highness the Amir in person, as well as the State of Kuwait.”
100 days Meanwhile, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled discussed with Sheikh Ahmed latest efforts for resolving the Yemeni crisis. A Foreign Ministry statement quoted Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled as praising, during the meeting, Sheikh Ahmed’s bids over the past three years to restore security and stability to Yemen.
He also underscored work of the resigning UN envoy during more than 100 days of deliberations among the
Kuwait hosted marathon negotiations in 2016
Yemeni factions in Kuwait in summer of 2016. Sheikh Ahmed expressed gratitude to Kuwait’s support for his mission, also lauding its backing for the Yemeni people.
Amir meets officials Earlier yesterday, His Highness the Amir received at Seif Palace His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad AlJaber Al-Sabah. His Highness the Amir also received Speaker of the National Assembly Marzouq Al-Ghanem, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.
Meanwhile, His Highness the Crown Prince received Ghanem, His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak, Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Anas Al-Saleh.
Condolences
In other news, His Highness the Amir sent a cable of condolences to UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan over the martyrdom of a UAE soldier while carrying out his duty as part of the Saudi-led Arab Coalition’s operations in Yemen. In the cable, His Highness the Amir prayed to Almighty Allah to have mercy upon him. Two cables of similar sentiments were sent to the UAE president by His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Prime Minister. —KUNA