KUWAIT: His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah chairs the Cabinet’s meeting yesterday. — KUNA

KUWAIT: On eve of the 26th anniversary of the flagrant Iraqi invasion, the Cabinet urged Kuwaiti citizens to close ranks and maintain their national unity "so that Kuwait may be safeguarded under leadership of Their Highnesses the Amir and the Crown Prince."

The Government, in a statement read following its weekly session, called on the Kuwaiti people, on this painful occasion, to take lessons and seek to continue developing Kuwait for now and the future and stand together for maintaining the unity and the national bonds.

Such national unification is complementary to the march of the ancestors who have contributed to building the dear homeland. It is also necessary to maintain the blessing of security and stability "in shadow of our march leaders His Highness the Amir and His Highness the Crown Prince."

The Cabinet, on eve of the aggression anniversary, recalled with "distress and bitter sentiments those who had fallen as martyrs, those had been taken as prisoners, as well as those who had been enlisted as missing from our dear homeland and sisterly States."

The ministers expressed gratitude to help provided by sisterly and friendly States as well as the brave stances that had helped Kuwait restore its sovereignty, freedom and integrity, "such aid will remain ingrained in the Kuwaitis' consciousness."

They prayed for souls of the late great leaders, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah for "the sacrifices they had given in facing the blatant aggression and liberating the country from claws of the hateful occupation."

Yemen talks

Meanwhile, the Cabinet expressed hope the Yemeni parties would reach an accord within framework of the diplomatic process for sake of Yemen's unity, regional security and stability. The Cabinet said in a statement following the weekly session that the State of Kuwait "will continue the bids aimed halting the destructive war" in Yemen.

The ministers, during the session, were briefed by the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah about the "contacts and developments that happened in the past week in the Yemeni consultations process, hosted by the State of Kuwait, that have been extended for a week in response to a UN request."

The Kuwaiti Cabinet called on the Yemeni parties to "seize the opportunity and work out a comprehensive agreement that ends the ongoing strife in their country and halt spilling the blood of the brotherly Yemeni people."

Meanwhile, the Cabinet was briefed by the Deputy Premier and Defense Minister Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah regarding his participation in the recent meeting by the international coalition's ministers of defense and foreign affairs, hosted by Washington.

The minister informed his fellow executives about "the results reached; aimed at boosting military and political coordination among the States taking part in facing the terrorist organization," the so-called Islamic State (IS), known in Arabic as 'Daesh.'

Church attack

In the meantime, the Cabinet condemned last week's terrorist attack that targeted a church in a suburb of Rouen, northern France. The Cabinet reiterated Kuwait's unwavering stance rejecting such criminal acts that go against religions and human values and norms, offering condolences to the government of France.

The ministers renewed a call to the international community to crystallize the world's solidarity to fight all forms of terrorism, reaffirming Kuwait's support to all efforts in that respect. IS claimed responsibility for last Tuesday's attack in which a priest was killed and other people were taken hostages. The two attackers were killed, and one hostage seriously injured, as the police special force intervened to free the hostages. - KUNA