US Jerusalem decision highlights urgent summit

ISTANBUL: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is welcomed by Kuwait’s Ambassador to Turkey Ghassan Al-Zuwawie upon his arrival to Istanbul. —KUNA

ISTANBUL: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah arrived in Istanbul yesterday to attend the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) urgent summit. Heading Kuwait's delegation to the meeting, His Highness the Amir was received upon his arrival at the airport by senior Turkish officials, along with Kuwait's Ambassador to Turkey Ghassan Al-Zuwawie and its Consul General Mohammad Al-Mohammad.

Upon their departure from Kuwait, His Highness the Amir and the accompanying delegation were seen off at Kuwait international airport by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Speaker of the National Assembly Marzouq Al-Ghanem, senior Sheikhs, Deputy Chief of the Kuwait National Guard (KNG) Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad, Deputy Minister of the Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Anas Al-Saleh, senior officials of the State, and the top brass at the police, army, KNG, and Kuwait Fire Service Directorate (KFSD).

His Highness the Amir's delegation includes Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, head of His Highness the Amir's office Ahmad Al-Fahad, Amiri Diwan Advisor Mohammad Abulhassan, Amiri Diwan head of protocols Sheikh Khaled Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah, Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah, Head of Media and Culture at the Amiri Diwan Yousef Al-Roumi, Chief of Political and Economic Affairs at the Amiri Diwan Sheikh Fawaz Saud Al-Sabah, Assistant Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al-Sabah, in addition to senior Amiri Diwan and Foreign Ministry officials.

The OIC will hold its urgent summit today to discuss the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel as well as the step to move the American embassy to the holy city. Last Saturday in Cairo, Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled stressed that Kuwait will not compromise went the issue of supporting the Palestinians is at stake. He called on the United States to back down from the decision it has taken and remain neutral on the issue of the Mideast peace process.

Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled said it was important to implement Arab summit resolutions concerning Jerusalem's status, affirming that the US decision was against international laws and norms. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan deemed the decision taken by his US counterpart Donald Trump as void from any legitimacy, saying that the OIC will showcase to Trump that his decision was wrong. Erdogan had contacted several regional and world leaders to discuss the recent development. Trump's decision has been met by protests worldwide especially in Arab and Muslim states. - KUNA