EU warmly welcomes UN honour to His Highness the Amir as 'Humanitarian Leader'

BRUSSELS, Sept 9 (KUNA) -- The European Union on Tuesday warmly welcomed the decision of United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to honour His Highness the Amir (of Kuwait) Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for his efforts as a "Humanitarian Leader", and his support for the UN's humanitarian works.
"As a leading donor of humanitarian assistance, the EU values the commitment of His Highness Sheikh Sabah to increase Kuwait's support to international humanitarian relief efforts," said a spokesperson on behalf of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, in a statement to Kuwait news agency (KUNA).
"The First and Second International Humanitarian Pledging Conferences for Syria held in Kuwait City in 2013 and 2014, attended by EU Commissioner for humanitarian aid Kristalina Georgieva, during which Kuwait pledged USD 800 million for Syrian refugees, its unwavering support to the Palestinian people, as well as its recent timely donation of USD 10 million to UN efforts in Iraq have been testimonies to His Highness' wish to place humanitarian assistance at the heart of his country's foreign policy in support of those in need," noted the statement.
"Humanitarian aid now constitutes a solid cornerstone of EU-Kuwait relations by setting global standards in prioritizing donor coordination to maximize the impact of international assistance," it added. (end) nk.rk