Kuwait hopes Lebanese President election paves way for stability

KUWAIT: (From left) Kuwait’s Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al- Jarallah, German Ambassador to Kuwait Karlfried Bergner and the ambassador’s spouse cut the cake at a ceremony to celebrate Germany’s national day. —Photos by Joseph Shagra

KUWAIT: Kuwait on Monday said Houthis' firing of a long-range missile against the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, was a "provocation of feelings of Muslims." This act "is a serious challenge to the will of the international community and all efforts aimed at reaching a peaceful solution that guaranteed security and stability for the Yemeni people," Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah told reporters on sidelines of a reception held by the German Embassy marking the national day. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) Executive Committee would hold a meeting to discuss Houthis' attack on Makkah, which brought condemnation from Arab and Islamic countries.

Jarallah said Kuwait would participate in the Executive Committee meeting, calling upon all countries around the world to condemn the attack. He said UN Secretary General envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Sheikh Ahmad was mandated with contacting all Yemeni parties to create a common ground. He said Kuwait was ready to host the signature of a peace agreement in Yemen. Kuwait hosted UN-sponsored Yemeni talks between April 21 and August 6, but no agreement was reached.

On ties with Germany, Jarallah cited first Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah's recent successful visit to Berlin. "We are looking for further promoting relations with Germany at all levels, and we must not forget that Germany is an economic strategic partner and there are huge Kuwaiti investment there," he said. Jarallah said Kuwait and Germany were coordinating efforts against terrorism.

Meanwhile, Jarallah expressed hope that the election of Michel Aoun as President of Lebanon would pave way for stability for Lebanon and its people. "We have followed the historic parliamentary session in Lebanon, and followed the voting process to elect his excellency the President," he told reporters as he congratulated the Lebanese people for the election of Aoun, ending two years of presidency vacuum. The Lebanese parliament has elected Aoun with 83 MPs in favor while 36 abstained and seven ballots were invalid. - KUNA