Kuwait, NATO discuss region
KUWAIT CITY, Sept 9, (KUNA): Acting Head of the National Security Apparatus Sheikh Sabah Al-Shamlan Abdulaziz Al-Sabah discussed Thursday with NATO Head of Middle East and North African Affairs Giovanni Romani, regional and international situations and aspects of joint cooperation.
The agency said in a press statement that during the meeting, aspects of cooperation between the State of Kuwait and the alliance were discussed through the NATO Regional Center and the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative in Kuwait.
The statement added that it was also discussed during the meeting to activate aspects of cooperation between the two parties through agreements and training programs, in addition to discussing the current regional and international situations.
The statement quoted the head of the Information and Security Follow-up Sector at the National Security Agency, Sheikh Fawaz Mishal Al-Sabah, as saying that Romani’s visit to the NATO Regional Center and the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative indicates the importance of the center and its achievements during the COVID-19 crisis, as none of the programs that were approved in the annual plans of the center did not stop NATO in Kuwait.
Sheikh Fawaz Al-Mishal explained that the detailed individual partnership program was also discussed during the visit, which is the strategic framework for the relationship between the State of Kuwait and the alliance, which outlines the policy of the programs that the Istanbul Initiative countries benefit from, especially at the level of institutions concerned with these programs.
He added that the United Arab Emirates appointed a liaison officer with the NATO Center for the Istanbul Initiative, which is an affirmation of the UAE’s interest and keenness to rehabilitate its national cadres through the programs offered by the center.
He expressed his wishes from the rest of the countries to appoint fixed liaison officers for the center, explaining that the participation of the Istanbul Initiative countries is distinguished through their keenness to participate and follow up with the center, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic period.
He pointed out that during the visit, they discussed activating the agreements between NATO and the State of Kuwait, including the confidentiality of exchanging information on a larger scale and upgrading intelligence and security cooperation to face challenges and regional conditions tainted by instability.
He indicated that work and cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was not limited to that only, but that there was an educational exchange between the State of Kuwait and the NATO Defense College. He indicated that the selection of Kuwaiti cadres to be trained in the military corps for training at the NATO Defense College is an affirmation of the competence and excellence of Kuwaitis in the military, pointing out that what confirms this is the selection of the chief teacher at the Mubarak Al-Abdullah College of Staff at the NATO Defense College in Rome.
For his part, head of the Middle East and North Africa to the North Atlantic Treaty Giovanni Roman, according to the statement said that the center of excellence in the last period continues to work on joint training courses with the countries of Istanbul initiative.
Roman added that “This is an achievement that counts for the State of Kuwait, despite the presence of the corona pandemic that has passed through the entire world, but they continued these courses and programs for the countries of the initiative.”
He indicated that this visit is one of the important visits of the alliance, and it resulted in the success of many meetings with officials in the State of Kuwait and the consolidation of relations between these parties and the alliance.
For his part, Director of the Administration of the Regional Center of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (NIRC) in Kuwait, Fawaz AlOthman, said according to the statement, that this visit is one of the important and periodic visits, during which meetings are held with the beneficiaries of the center’s programs, as well as reviewing the latest developments in the center’s work and the participations that took place during the last period.
Al-Othman added that it was agreed on many programs and activities that will be worked on this year, and what was presented in the past period was evaluated, with work on developing programs and activities, the most important of which is cybersecurity.
He explained that the visit included meetings and other visits with the concerned government agencies, namely the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Kuwait Fire Force, the National Guard and the Ministry of Defense, noting that during those meetings, several joint projects were discussed in the near future.