Kuwaiti FM heads GCC troika, EU, Russia, Japan meetings

Kuwaiti FM heads GCC troika, EU, Russia, Japan meetings


Politics 9/23/2010 11:24:00 AM


Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, member of the Kuwaiti delegation taking part in the 65th United Nations UNITED NATIONS, Sept 23 (KUNA) -- Kuwait's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, member of the Kuwaiti delegation taking part in the 65th United Nations (UN) General Assembly, chaired on Wednesday a series of meetings between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) troika, European Union, Russia, and Japan.

Participants in the meetings discussed issues related to economic development and security in the Gulf region.

The meetings were attended by Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zaid Al-Nahyan and GCC Secretary General Abdulrahman Bin Mohammad Al-Attiyah.

Speaking to KUNA following the meetings, Al-Attiyah said that the GCC troika discussed with other delegations and regional groups it met with the importance of Iraq's implementation of all UN resolutions, especially those related to Kuwait.

"We become happy when we see Iraq stable and free from foreign interference, but we become upset when we see otherwise," he said.

"We are keen on Iraq's Arab and Islamic identity," he stressed.

All the delegations and groups praised Kuwait's call to hold an international conference on investment in Sudan, he said.

Invitations to attend the conference will be sent to concerned countries and regional and international bodies, he noted, pointing out that the decision of inviting Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir is the decision of the Kuwaiti government in the first place.

The EU delegation discussed with the Gulf troika the issue of the free trade agreement between the Gulf and Europe, he said.

GCC countries are interested in the issue, but there are some unsolved issues like export duties, he noted.

The two sides agreed on continuing talks to solve all issues as soon as possible, he noted.

The Gulf delegation stressed, in talks with the EU delegation, the importance of Iran's compliance with UAE's calls to start direct talks regarding the Emirati islands or seeking international arbitration, he noted.

They also discussed the crisis between Tehran and the West regarding the Iranian nuclear issue and the situation in the Middle East, especially the importance of Israel's compliance with the international legitimacy and ending Israel's settlement activities and violence, he said.

Al-Attiyah said that the Gulf troika and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed all those issues, in addition to the situation in Sudan amid Qatar's efforts regarding the crisis in Darfur.

He said that the Gulf side told Lavrov that the Gulf states believe it was important to hold strategic talks with Russia.

The first meeting will be held in Kuwait, possibly in the second half of October, he noted.

The two sides will sign a memorandum of understanding to set details of the talks which will be on different fields like economy, trade, investment, technical cooperation, education, culture, environment, and regional and international political issues, he pointed out.

The Gulf troika discussed with Japan's Foreign Affairs Minister Seiji Maehara cooperation between the Gulf countries and Japan in the fields of economy, trade, investment, energy, education, scientific research, health, and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, he pointed out.

The two sides also discussed setting a framework for holding a strategic dialogue and exchanging views on regional and international issues of common interest, he added.


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