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UN honors Kuwait''s Amb. for peace initiative during London Olympics

(With photos) LONDON, Aug 17 (KUNA) -- Kuwaiti Ambassador to the UK, Khaled Al-Duwaisan, expressed on Friday his satisfaction with his role played as Head of the foreign diplomatic corps in the UK, in supporting of promoting peace truce initiative during the Olympic Games here.
Al-Duwaisan presented an initiative to collect signatures of all the accredited ambassadors to the UK on letters emphasizing the importance of supporting such a truce, which aims to provide peace and security in the world during the London Olympics.
This came during a celebration held by the United Nations Association in the UK in Westminster Hall in central London, to honor Al-Duwaisan for his active role in this initiative.
Westminster Hall had witnessed the first session of the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1946 after the World War II ended.
Al-Duwaisan told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) and Kuwait TV in a joint statement that he was "proud to represent the State of Kuwait in this important initiative to promote a peace truce throughout the world and collect signatures of ambassadors in the UK." The letters were collected in a book to symbolise this initiative, and will be displayed in the museum of this historic memorial hall.
The ceremony was attended by representatives of the British government and members of the House of Commons and Lords, in addition to a large number of foreign ambassadors in the United Kingdom, public figures and prominent members of the Association of the United Nations, media and a group of clergy.
Al-Duwaisan added, "our roles as ambassadors to the United Kingdom is to promote peace, therfore we all signed this document through letters to highlight the importance of this truce." Al-Duwaisan pointed out that sports had always contributed in promoting cooperation and fair competition since the Greek and Roman era.
Al-Duwaisan reviewed the history of such a truce that prevailed during the Olympics in ancient Greece for a long time where different tribes and groups in Greece take into account this initiative to provide an atmosphere of peace and calm during these tournaments.
Duwaisan said that Egypt had proposed the truce on behalf of the Organization of African Unity in the nineties of the twentieth century.
The Olympic truce began here a week before the start of the Olympic Games and will continue until the end of the Olympics for the disabled and those with special needs after less than two weeks in London.
Al-Duwaisan said in his speech that the signing of these letters come in accordance to the decision of the UN General Assembly No. 66 adopted by the United Kingdom as a country that will host the Olympic Games.
On the other hand the Executive Director of the Association of the United Nations in the UK, Phil Mulligan, praised Al-Duwaisan for his efforts as Head of the diplomatic corps in promoting foreign relations with Britain and the provision of care for new diplomats here.
He also referred to the United Nations Association honoring Al-Duwaisan during a grand ceremony held last year for being one of the distinguished personalities who have contributed to strengthening understanding and cooperation in the world through his role as Kuwait Ambassador to the UK. (end) he.asa KUNA 171317 Aug 12NNNN