LOC13:17
10:17 GMT
(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)
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