Italian Senate supports Kuwaiti Schengen exemption
ROME: Italy’s Senate reiterated its support for granting Kuwaitis Schengen visa-free access during a meeting with visiting Kuwaiti lawmakers on Friday. The talks, held at Palazzo Madama, grouped Vito Petrocelli, the Senate foreign affairs committee president, and several National Assembly MPs led by Shuaib Al-Muwaizri. Both the Senate and parliament will do ‘all in their power’ to pass the exemption, which will have ‘positive results,’ Petrocelli told the visitors. Achieving this has become easy, he added, as the technical requirements for the move have been met.
Some 26 European countries identify as being within the Schengen Area - a common and
unified visa policy for international travelers. Kuwaiti MP Osama AlShaheen praised the ‘positive reaction’ he sensed on the issue, amid two days of meetings with Italian lawmakers, including the Chamber of Deputies a day prior. “We anticipate (the exemption’s) announcement in the earliest time possible,” he said, reiterating Kuwait’s fulfillment of the conditions.
At the conclusion of the talks, Petrocelli was handed an invitation, addressed to President of the Senate Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati, to visit Kuwait and meet National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem.
The deeply-rooted bilateral relations which date back to 1964 was also tackled during the talks, Shaheen said, expressing satisfaction about the meeting outcome. He added that they had shed lights on the Kuwait’s role in promoting world peace and security and supporting needy people across the world.
Meanwhile, President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies’ Foreign and European Affairs Committee Marta Grande welcomed the Kuwaiti lawmakers and described Kuwait as a close and
trusted ally. She also highlighted the effective cooperation between the two countries within the Global Coalition to Defeat IS and the NATO’s Istanbul Cooperation Initiative. Grande renewed appreciation to Kuwait for the one million euros donation to furnish a hospital in Italian central town of Norcia following the 2016 devastating quake.
Muwaizri appreciated Italy’s ‘historic, solid and influential’ position during the 1990-91 Iraqi invasion and occupation of Kuwait. He hoped the meeting with the society chairman would have positive impacts on bilateral relations and cooperation.
Kuwait Charge d’Affaires Sami Al-Zamanan termed the meeting as important, and said the friendship society has a major role in cementing popular relationship. Chairman of the Italian-Kuwaiti Friendship Society Pierandrea Vanni said the society was established in the first weeks of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait with the aim of supporting Kuwait’s just cause, freedom and independence.
The society’s members represent different spectra have always seek to promote ties between Italian and Kuwaiti people. — KUNA