Kuwait reaffirms continued aid, support to Albania
EU’s top diplomat touts relations with Kuwait
BRUSSELS, Feb 18, (KUNA): Kuwait has underlined its firm support and assistance to Albania in the reconstruction efforts after the earthquake that struck the Balkan country last November.
“The State of Kuwait is fully prepared and committed to providing additional aid to the Albanian government,” Kuwait’s Ambassador to Belgium EU and NATO Jassem Al-Budaiwi, told the International Donors’ Conference on Albania, which concluded in Brussels Monday evening.
“I also wish to express the affirmation of the State of Kuwait that officials in the friendly country of Albania can and will overcome the effects of this natural disaster and that they can count on Kuwait’s assistance in this regard,” he said.
Al-Budaiwi noted that Kuwait previously provided a loan to Albania in order to finance the costs of the project to rehabilitate the ‘Vlora River’ Road at the amount of USD 40.8 million.
Kuwait is also about to sign an additional loan agreement for the same project during next month, worth approximately USD 22.3 million, he said.
“I would like to invite the friendly Albanian delegation to communicate with us, especially with the Kuwaiti Fund for Development who are represented here today, now on the sidelines of this conference or at any time they find suitable to propose financing projects related to infrastructure in the earthquake-affected areas, as the State of Kuwait is fully prepared and committed to providing additional aid to the Albanian government,” said the Kuwaiti ambassador.
He recalled that Kuwait has taken many measures by making positive, constructive, and crucial contributions to many crises and humanitarian disasters in order to alleviate the suffering of people affected by these events.
Measures
“Kuwait puts into consideration these measures in order to assist friendly countries in their time of need and help guide them towards a new level of stability both through urban and human development,” he said, citing as example Kuwait increasing its annual contribution to the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund, from USD 300,000 to USD 500,000.
In addition, since 2008, in its desire to enhance cooperation and coordination with various UN agencies and programs concerned with providing humanitarian and emergency relief to countries affected by natural disasters, Kuwait has committed to donating 10 percent of its total aid to affected countries through international agencies and organizations working in the field, said Al-Budaiwi.
Meanwhile, the European Union hosted the International Donors’ Conference on Monday to support the reconstruction efforts in Albania after the earthquake that struck the country on November 26, 2019.
About 100 delegations from the European Union, non-EU countries, international organisations and civil society participated in the one-day conference, according to a European commission statement.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that an amount of EUR 1.15 billion (USD 1.6 billion) was pledged at the conference.
The devastating earthquake of 6.3 on Richter scale left 51 people dead, more than 900 injured, and about 17,000 temporarily displaced, with the earthquake ultimately affecting more than 200,000 people.
Meanwhile, European Union High Representative Josep Borrell on Monday described his recent meeting with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah as “good.”
Meeting
In statements to KUNA on the sidelines of the EU foreign ministers’ meeting this evening, he said, “The relations between EU and Kuwait are good,” voicing hope to visit the country this year.
“Yes, I have to visit the Gulf. I have been invited by all the states in the Gulf,” he said, adding that for “sure” he will visit the region this year.
Borrell met the Kuwaiti foreign minister on the sidelines of the 56th Munich Security Conference on Saturday.
In the meantime, Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) plans to hold a fundraising campaign on Wednesday to raise donations for Syrian refugees as they cope with the plummeting temperature.
The donation drive is incumbent upon the venerable Kuwaiti charity given the misery Syrians have had to withstand in recent years, KRCS secretary general Maha Al-Barjaes told KUNA on Tuesday.
The two-day endeavor will take place at Kuwait Red Crescent headquarters, she added, pointing out that more than 2,000 Syrian refugees will be the beneficiaries of this humanitarian initiative.
In a country whose citizens have become synonymous with altruism, the official urged Kuwaitis to come out in droves in support of Syria’s hapless refugees.