VIENNA: Kuwait's ambassador to Austria Talal Al-Fassam presented his credentials to Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen during a ceremony held at Hofburg Palace in the center of Vienna on Friday. In a statement to KUNA, Kuwait Embassy in Vienna said the credentials were presented during the ceremonial event - displaying factual bilateral relations that stretch over five decades and the possibility of strengthening these relations through economic and commercial fields.

Ambassador Al-Fassam's statement to KUNA following the occasion said that he conveyed the greetings of His Highness the Amir and Crown Prince to the Austrian President. The continued dialogue between Kuwait and Austria on international matters has been a key to the successful relations, he added. Last week, he had also presented his credentials to Director-General Rafael Grossi of the IAEA, Executive Secretary of Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Organization (CTBT), and Director general of UN office for Drugs and Crime, in addition to Director General of UNIDO.

He also pointed out the importance of the CTBT's work and Kuwait's tough stance on the banning of nuclear weapons and to eradicate any further development. On his meet with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, Al-Fassam mentioned the importance of transferring knowledge and capacity building in order to benefit from nuclear applications, while also securing the process of safeguarding from exploitations, specifically for weapons of mass destruction.

Kuwait is also adamant on working with all bodies involved for the use of nuclear applications and implement projects vital to social and economic development. On his part, Grossi was very welcoming to Kuwaiti IAEA representative and his poise for cooperation on these topics along with issues relating to health, environment, and sustenance. - KUNA