Abdul Aziz Hussein man of wisdom, diplomacy
Serious thinker
This is the fourth in a series of articles on Abdul Aziz Hussein Al Tarkait (1920-1996) a intellectual, scholar, diplomat and former minister.
— Editor
affairs.
Abdul Aziz Hussein was the first appointed Ambassador of Kuwait in Egypt when his young compatriot, the artist Khalifa Ali Hussein Al Qattan Al Fawaz arrived in Cairo in 1962, in his first tour of exhibitions abroad.
After scheduling his show at the Museum of Modern Arts in Cairo, the artist contacted Abdul Aziz Hussein for the inauguration of the exhibition; Abdul Aziz Hussein was both pleased and disappointed that the artist did not contact him sooner, because he would had made it easier for him.
At the opening of the exhibition the response from the local media and critics was so impressive that writing his report on the event Abdul Aziz Hussein suggested to the Education Department in Kuwait to consider granting to the artist a sponsorship allowing him to pursue his vocation unhindered by ties of employment.
At his return home Khalifa Al Qattan was surprise to receive an official grant as Free artist, at the same time he was appointed director of the Free Atelier. Subsequently other artists were sponsored by the government, first among them was the late sculptor, Isa Saker.
Course
That same year (in 1962) the first group of artists was sent for a course of study at the Art Institute of Cairo, Egypt.
Besides encouraging the development of the fine arts Abdul Aziz Hussein was also very keen in encouraging the development of literature in his country. Incidentally the literary movement in Kuwait began with the birth of the twentieth century, pioneered by the great poets- Saker Shebeeb, Khalid Al Faraj, Fahad Al Askar, Fahad Abu Resly, the historian Abdul Aziz Alrshid and others.
Lidia Qattan
To spur the development of new talents Abdul Aziz Hussein founded “the Intellectuals’ Society in 1959, of which he was the first elected chairman. The club attracted all the intellectuals,poets and writers in town to discuss the salient problem of the day in an atmosphere of conviviality and understanding,enhanced by mutual sharing of opinions. The result was a remarkable increase in the quantity and quality of their literary contribution, which was further encouraged by the appearance of Al Beyan, the society’s monthly magazine in which their work was published.
In 1960 Abdul Aziz Hussein published the lectures he delivered in Egypt in a book entitled “Arabian Society in Kuwait”.
After reading it the late Amir, Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Al Sabah wrote a letter to Abdul Aziz Hussein (on the 17-9-1960) expressing his admiration on the work.
The year 1961 was one of the most critical periods in the life of the nations, it was also the beginning of Abdul Aziz Hussein’s diplomatic career.
Throughout the fifties radical developments and innovations in every sphere of social economic and political life were made preparing Kuwait for its transition from a traditional country into a modern democratic welfare state.
Preparing for that great moment when Kuwait would emerge into a fully independent state one of the strategies was to gain memberships in various world organizations in which Abdul Aziz Hussein proved remarkable diplomatic skill.
His first success as an erudite diplomat was in 1958 when he gained for Kuwait full membership at the UNESCO.
Subsequently Kuwait became full member of the World Communication Union; of the Post & Telegraph Union; of the organization of World Civic Aviation; of the World Health Organization; and of the World Labor Organization.
By the time Kuwait was approaching the dead line,all the major developments in the diplomatic, social and economical sector were achieved, even the final groundwork of selecting a number of promising young men for crash courses in diplomatic service was done.
Finally on the 19 June 1961 the treaty signed between Sheikh Mubarak and Great Britain in 1899, was officially annulled, Kuwait was declared a fully independent state and a new treaty of mutual friendship was signed with GB.
The nation’s rejoicing was ecstatic, for three consecutive days the celebration went on with fire-works lighting the night sky, when suddenly the allegation of the Iraqi dictator, Abdul Karim Qasim declaring Kuwait an Iraqi province and threatening the Amir transformed the people’s joy into a flare of indignation and anger as they took to the streets in mass, protesting.
Less than a month before, on the 5th of June 1961, the Iraqi government held a meeting with the Kuwaiti government representatives in Baghdad on matters of economy and trade a treaty was signed. In their written statement the Iraqi stressed on the mutual friendship and brotherhood of the two nations, thereby fully recognizing Kuwait’s sovereignty.
In other occasions Iraq sided with Kuwait in its endeavor to gain world recognition as an independent country, therefore no one in Kuwait ever suspected what was going on in the mind of the Iraqi leader.
The allegation of Abdul Karim Qasim against Kuwait sparked a flare of heated patriotism, people from every walk of life joined in protest, brandishing weapons and singing inflammatory martial songs, born there and then in the heat of quivering emotions.
While this was happening at home,Abdul Aziz Hussein was representing his country at the Education World Conference in Geneva,.
An order was sent to him to leave for New-York immediately at the head of the Kuwaiti delegation attending the Security Council at the United Nations, to which the British government brought the Kuwait-Iraq crisis.
Abdul Aziz Hussein had only 24 hours to prepare his speech and meet the Security Council; with him were Saud Al Fousan and Mohammed al Eshmawi.
Understanding
Upon their arrival at the United Nations Abdul Aziz Hussein tried to see the Iraqi representative, Adnan Al Bajeji hoping to reach an understanding and avoid more embarrassment to the Arab world, but the man sternly refused to meet him.
Adnan presented his case before the Council accusing and slandering the Kuwaiti delegation.
Abdul Aziz Hussein, keeping calm and in perfectly control of himself, was studying the reaction of the gathering and when came his turn to speak he addressed the Security Council in his characteristic quiet tone of voice,presenting all the facts and figures with wisdom and diplomacy,leaving no doubt as to the legitimacy of Kuwait as a free, independent State.
Unanimously the Security Council voted in favor of Kuwait.
After this warm response which in itself was a victory for Kuwait, Abdul Aziz Hussein held a press conference that same afternoon, answering to the questions put before him in few words without laying stress, presenting the situation in broad view, speaking with moderation and precision and with so great a conviction and clarity as to excite the admiration and consideration of the world media.
The way Abdul Aziz Hussein conducted himself at the United Nations proved he was a man of wisdom and diplomacy, but in spite of his victory and the prestige he gained for his country, he felt sad that such a crisis ever occurred in the Arabian world and the damage it caused to the Arab image.
When he was a young boy his imagination was flared by Arab Nationalism and past glories; though his view sobered as he grew older, he still held the hope that one day the Arab world would unite to redeem its dignity and regain faith in itself.
The Iraq-Kuwait incident was a deep disappointment, he felt yet more sad when before the year ended,the unity of Egypt and Syria that nurtured the dreams and hopes of every intellectuals and patriots in the Arabian world, came to an end.
The news of its collapse reached him at the time he was about to leave for Cairo to assume his new responsibility as the first Ambassador to Kuwait in Egypt, as well as Permanent Representative at the Arab League.
Assuming his new responsibility Abdul Aziz Hussein set the example of the true Ambassador to his country, his whole objective was to cast a good image of Kuwait.
Hence as soon as he settled, he made of his residence the meeting place, the open saloon,(diwaniya) to which prominent personalities from all over the Arabian world were attracted to discuss the heated issues of the day in an atmosphere of cordiality.
Many of those who frequented his diwaniya were political refugees, ex presidents and ministers, and some were the future leaders in state affairs.
In the midst of their discussion Abdul Aziz Hussein always kept in the background. He spoke little and listened; by his cool countenance he dominated the gathering, which took place every evening.
Showing as much good taste as good policy he was observing in the conflict of opinions the hidden strings that might have been of some use to his country later on. Indeed during those meetings he gained many important connections, which were of great value in opening and strengthening state relations with the other Arabian countries and smoothing the way for Kuwait’s full membership at the Arab League.
To be concluded