KUWAIT: The Ambassador of Georgia to Kuwait Roland Beridze (left) and Assistant Foreign Minister for European Affair Waleed Al-Khubaizi cut the cake during a reception hosted to celebrate Georgia’s independence day. — Photo by Joseph Shagra

KUWAIT: The biannual UK-Kuwait Joint Steering Group is set to tackle various security and judiciary cooperation dossiers in its upcoming meeting in Kuwait in December 6-7, a senior foreign ministry official stated Tuesday. In statements to reporters on the sidelines of his participation in the Georgian embassy's function to mark Georgia's national day, Assistant Foreign Minister for European Affair Waleed Al-Khubaizi disclosed that that the Kuwaiti and UK ministries of justice were expected to ink an agreement for exchanging experience during the Steering Group meeting.

He also pointed out that the Kuwaiti and UK officials would mull beefing up commercial, educational, security and defense cooperation to reach new levels. On a separate issue, the official noted that Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah would visit Belgium next month to partake in the inauguration of a bureau for Kuwait in the NATO HQs. During his visit, he would hold talks with EU and Belgian officials, Kubaizi said, adding that Jarallah would have a chance to reopen Kuwait's bid to waiver Schengen visa.

Khubaizi said that he would start an official visit to Italy today to represent First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah in the Mediterranean Dialogue forum. He added that the Kuwaiti-Italian consultation meeting at the level of senior officials would be held during his stay in Italy. The conferees would discuss preparation for the supreme joint committee meeting, he said.

On Kuwaiti-Georgian relations, Khubaizi said the diplomatic relations between the two countries dated back to 1992. He unveiled that Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled is expected to pay a visit to Georgia in the near future to head Kuwait's delegation of the joint Kuwaiti-Georgian committee meeting. - KUNA