Vet diplomat underlines deep-rooted ties with UK
Embassy marks national occasions
LONDON, Feb 26, (KUNA): Kuwait has maintained distinctive relations with Britain in various sectors and the Kuwaitis will never forget its just and supportive stances for Kuwait throughout history, affirmed the Kuwaiti Ambassador to the UK Khaled Al-Duweisan.
Al-Duweisan, the dean of the diplomatic corps in the UK, underlined the special relations with London during a ceremony, held by the embassy late on Monday, marking Kuwait’s 52nd Anniversary of the National Day and 22nd Anniversary of Liberation, which also coincided with Seventh Anniversary of HH the Amir’s assumption to the top leadership post.
Kuwait has enjoyed special relations with Britain on various arenas and the Kuwaitis will not forget Britain’s just and supportive stands for Kuwait throughout the history, he stated during the ceremony, attended by more than 2, 450 British officials, Arab and foreign dignitaries and diplomats based in London.
Al-Duweisan, in a statement to KUNA, expressed congratulations to HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, HH the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and the Kuwaiti people on the national occasions, invoking His Almighty to bless Kuwait with everlasting security, stability and prosperity.
The veteran diplomat noted that attendance of a large number of eminent figures at the ceremony, held at Dorchester Hotel in the British capital, reflected great support, respect and appreciation of representatives of these states for Kuwait.
The special Kuwaiti-British ties were, particularly, underlined with the visit, paid by HH the Amir to Britain last November. It was HH Sheikh Sabah’s first official visit to the UK since assuming power in 2006. His Highness was welcomed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth at Windsor Castle, and he held a series of meeting with senior government officials. Schedule of the visit also included meetings with leaders of various British political parties, as well as attending banquets held by HRH the Prince of Wales and HRH the Duke of York. HH the Amir’s programme included a visit to the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, the world’s top military academy where many Kuwaiti and Arab royals and senior military staff receive training.
Meanwhile, the visiting Kuwaiti Minister of Health, Dr. Mohammad Barrak Al-Haifi, extended greetings to HH the Amir, HH the Deputy Amir and HH the Prime Minister and the people of Kuwait on the patriotic occasions.
For his part, the former foreign secretary of Britain, Jack Straw, affirmed in a statement to KUNA the distinguished relationship bounding Britain with Kuwait and the sincere mutual desire to boost these ties in diverse fields, noting that Britain remained a strategic ally of Kuwait.
He praised Al-Duweisan as a distinguished diplomat who effectively contributed to bolstering the bilateral relations between London and Kuwait City.
The broad ceremony included a show by the Kuwaiti musical troupe of Salah Hamad Al-Khalifah.
The close ties between Kuwait and Britain date back to early times of the past century, when London scrambled to back up the country in face of schemes by the Ottomans to expand their influence in the Gulf region. This relationship was further solidified when London took part in an international military campaign, in 1991, ousting occupation Iraqi forces out of the country.
Moreover, the two countries are bound with a series of cooperation accords.