Many mourners in Belgium pay respects to late Amir of Kuwait
BRUSSELS, Oct 3, (KUNA): Top officials from the European Union (EU), NATO, Belgium, diplomats, and others visited the Kuwait House in Brussels to pay their respects and sign the book of condolence for His Highness the late Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah from Wednesday till Friday evening in Brussels.
EU Commissioner for humanitarian aid and crisis management Janez Lenarcic said, “It is with deep sadness that we in the European Union have learnt the passing away of His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Sabah.”
“We will remember him for his tireless work for reconciliation in the region as well as beyond,” he told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) after signing the condolence book last evening.
“We will cherish his memory as a humanitarian leader and we wish to extend to the people of Kuwait and to his family and to the government of Kuwait our deep condolences,” the top EU official added.
On his part, NATO Deputy SecretaryGeneral Mircea Geoana said that he came here to the Kuwait residence “to express our condolences on behalf of NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and myself for the loss of a great leader.”
“The late Amir led his nation in complicated times. He showed wisdom, compassion and a constant determination for peace and security and cooperation in the Gulf, the Arab world and around the globe,” said the NATO official.
“He will be missed but I think he has accomplished in his long distinguished life as a leader of this great nation many things that would be remembered,” Geoana added.
“In this moment of mourning and loss our deepest condolences and also our encouragement to further develop our partnership between Kuwait and NATO which is one of the vibrant partnerships we have in that region,” he added.
European Parliament President David Sassoli in his message signed on his behalf and on part of the entire EP by a special representative said, “We would like to pay homage to the great statesman widely respected in Kuwait and throughout the region and beyond.”
“He was the architect of Kuwait’s independent foreign policy with peace and reconciliation at its core. Under his leadership Kuwait played an important role as a mediator in the region,” said the EP President.
“We would like to pay tribute to his exemplary leadership and efforts in making Kuwait a prominent humanitarian donor among the Gulf Cooperation Council countries,” he added.
United States Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium Ronald Gidwitz said, “On behalf of the people of the United States I have come to pay my respects for His Highness the late Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.”
“He has made a magnificent contribution to peace not just in the Middle East but across the world,” he said.
“We shall all miss him, may he rest in peace,” added the US Ambassador.
Head of protocol at the Belgian Foreign Ministry Ambassador Olivier Belle stated, “All our thoughts are with the people of Kuwait and with the family of His Highness the late Amir.”
Kuwait’s ambassador to Belgium, the EU and NATO, Jasem Al-Budaiwi, expressed his sincere condolences to the His Highness Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, and to the government and the people of Kuwait.
“We knew His Highness the late Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah from the beginning of our lives. He dedicated his life to serving not only the Kuwait people but the Gulf region and the Arab Islamic world and the international community,” Al-Budaiwi said.
“His death will create a big vacuum not only in Kuwait but in the entire world. But we are certain that the new Amir of Kuwait will continue his heritage and the path he has set for Kuwait,” Al-Budaiwi added.
The huge international reaction to the passing away of His Highness the late Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah speaks about his high stature he said.
When you see the joint statement released the European Council, the European Commission and the EU “it means that all of Europe is behind the content of this message which expresses sorrow but also recognition of his international role and the appreciation of Europe of his role for maintaining peace and stability in the region,” he noted. Ambassador Al-Budaiwi said that the turnout of mourners during the last three days was huge which shows the big stature and respect His Highness the late Amir enjoyed.
Meanwhile, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received Saturday a condolence cable from German Chancellor Angela Merkel on demise of His Highness the late Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah.
In the cable, Merkel expressed sincere consolations to His Highness the Amir, noting Sheikh Sabah’s prominent role in resolving many conflicts as well as praising the outstanding contributions with his wisdom for strengthening relations between Germany and Kuwait.
In response to the cable, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf expressed his appreciation for the sincere condolences and wished her good health as well as for Germany to progress and prosper.
Also, Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad AlJaber Al-Sabah, the Deputy Chief of the National Guard, received on Saturday a phone contact from Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, the Saudi Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, expressing condolences on demise of the late Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
The Saudi Crown Prince addressed prayers for Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad’s soul.
Sheikh Meshaal reciprocated, expressing deep gratitude to the Saudi Crown Prince for his brotherly sentiments, also voicing good wishes for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques (the Saudi King) and the Heir Apparent.
In another development, many Lebanese officials and former leaders on Friday bemoaned death of the late Kuwait Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah.
The Kuwaiti embassy was crowded with the officials namely former president Michel Suleiman who recalled Sheikh Sabah’s role in boosting peace in Lebanon after the 1975-1990 civil war and warfares.
Sheikh Sabah is remembered “for his white hands,” aiding the country in the political, economic, health humanitarian fields, said another former president, Amin Gemayel who also expressed sorrow to the State of Kuwait Ambassador, Abdulal AlGinaee.
Caretaker Foreign Minister Sherbel Wehbe stated to KUNA that he conveyed condolences on behalf of President Michel Aoun to the Kuwaiti envoy, indicating that the president might travel to Kuwait in a few days to manifest sentiments of sorrow and congratulate the newly proclaimed Amir, His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
The health minister of the care-taking cabinet, Mohammad Hassan, paid homage to Sheikh Sabah as a leader whose traits combined mercy, wisdom, firmness and courage.
Lebanon has lost a dear friend, the resigned information minister Manal Abdulsamad, said.
Among the top leaders who were in line to forward their sorrow was Walid Jumblatt, the chief of the Socialist Progressive Party, who dubbed the late Amir as an “Arab and international legendary personality who tackled crises with flexible diplomacy.”