By Nawab Khan
BRUSSELS, March 18 (KUNA) -- Kuwaits new ambassador to the EU Dharar Abdul Razzak Razzooqi, Tuesday presented his credentials to the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso.
Speaking to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Razzooqi said Barroso expressed his happiness to meet him and underlined the EU interest in strengthening relationship and enhance economic cooperation with Kuwait.
"I thanked them, as the EU countries are allies of Kuwait and helped in the liberation of Kuwait. We have strong cooperation, political coordination with them in different issues, and a lot of investments in the EU," said the Kuwait ambassador.
Barroso thanked his His Highness the Amir of Kuwait for his role that he is playing in the humanitarian situation in Syria and appreciated Kuwait's role in the Gulf region and its efforts in solving the regional problems, noted Razzooqi.
The Kuwaiti ambassador informed him about the two donors conference on Syria that Kuwait had hosted, the first conference reached pledges of USD 1.5 billion USD and the second USD 2.5 bn.
He also explained to the head of the EUs executive body that Kuwait is giving huge importance in promoting the role of education and technology and that Kuwait is interested in boosting cooperation with the EU in these two fields.
Barroso said the EU has special programme of 80 billion euro to encourage technology and research.
The Kuwaiti envoy was accompanied by two embassy diplomats in the meeting, Abeer Al Duaij and Abdul Mohsen Almansour.
Razzooqi is expected to present his credentials to the President of the European Council, Herman van Rompuy, on 4th April.
Razzooqi, who is also Kuwaits ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg, presented his credentials to King Philippe of Belgium last November. (end) nk.mt KUNA 181846 Mar 14NNNN