KUWAIT: UN Secretary-General's Representative and Resident Coordinator in Kuwait Dr Tareq Al-Sheikh said Tuesday Kuwait has been in permanent partnership with the UN for international security, peace and prosperity. Interviewed by KUNA to mark the UN Day, which falls on October 24, Al-Sheikh commended Kuwait's great and significant contributions to UN development goals in various aspects, including political and development support.

He said that the fact that Kuwait's policies at both regional and international levels are in tandem with the UN principles and charter is of paramount significance, citing its role in the UN even before having joined it in 1963. In this regard, he recalled the speech delivered by the late Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the then foreign minister, at the UN when Kuwait's membership bid was accepted, having supported UN polices at all levels for sustainable development goals.

He pointed out Kuwait's clear-cut and unequivocal policies in various international affairs, including political ones, especially its backing for non-alignment and resolution of conflicts in Africa, Asia and Latin America. He cited the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), which extends aid to more than hundred countries, as evidence of Kuwait's support for development efforts worldwide.

The UN official also spoke highly of Kuwait's humanitarian efforts through different UN agencies with a view to helping conflict-hit people, the last of which was contributions to anti-COVID-19 vaccination efforts. In addition, Kuwait has provided aid to the Syrian people since 2014 and hosted three conferences aiming at alleviating the humanitarian agony in Syria, he added. Kuwait, further, participated in similar conferences held in Geneva and Brussels, which were mainly intended to offer humanitarian aid to Syria and to find a solution to this Arab country's crisis, Al-Sheikh remarked.

Kuwait also offered Yemen medical aid, including the equipping of 114 health units, during the fight against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), not to mention contributions to the World Food Program to provide food to Yemeni refugees and displaced persons, he added. The UN official underlined Kuwait-UN development partnership programs and projects, including a recent one that helped over 26 young Kuwaitis have jobs at UN bodies.

He also spoke highly of cooperation between Kuwait and the UN for backing climate change efforts and highlighting the role of ambitious Kuwaiti young people through relevant individual and societal initiatives. In this context, he pointed out the fruitful cooperation between the UN and the Kuwaiti private sector, based on a set of initiatives and projects, particularly waste recycling and reducing food consumption.

Regarding women's role, the UN official stated that the UN, based on cooperation with Kuwaiti state bodies, seeks to highlight the leading, pioneering and historic role of Kuwaiti women in development, educational, political and economic domains. He concluded by voicing happiness that two Kuwaiti women had recently joined the National Assembly (parliament). - KUNA