Kuwait's public, private sectors to attend Egypt's int'l economic conf. - FM

KUWAIT, Dec 16 (KUNA) -- A high ranking delegation comprising the Kuwaiti public and private sectors will take part in Egypt's international economic conference slated for March, First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah has said.
Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled made the statement in a joint press conference with Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shukry following the 10th session of the Egyptian-Kuwaiti Higher Joint Committee on Tuesday.
He hoped the March gathering will witness broad international attendance.
Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled said the positive outcome of the Committee meeting reaffirms the deep bilateral ties between the two leading Arab states.
He also referred to the meeting of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah with the visiting Foreign Minister.
"We listened to His Highness the Amir's directives and apposite views on regional developments," Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled said. His Highness the Amir stressed the importance of enhancing bilateral ties in all fields, he added.
The Kuwaiti Foreign Minister pointed to briefing His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah on the outcome of the 10th Higher Committee, referring to his directives on fostering bilateral ties.
This 10th session has consolidated bilateral cooperation mechanisms for mutual interests, as it has witnessed the inking of agreement, MoUs and executive programs with the aim of bolstering Kuwait-Egypt ties, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled told the conference.
He also expressed pleasure that Egypt is restoring its leading role, adding weight to the Arabs in the confrontation of the challenges sweeping the region.
In a reply to a question on Gulf and Arab coordination to counter the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled stressed that terrorism is a global phenomenon, that is not confined to the Arab World. He affirmed working within a coalition that includes 60 countries to combat the threat.
Meanwhile, the First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister welcomed a visit due to Kuwait next week by Iraq's Prime Minister Haidar Al-Abadi to discuss the issue of Kuwaiti reparations.
The reparations committee is due to hold a meeting prior to the visit, he said, noting that Kuwait has responded positively to Baghdad's demands, with no violation of the relevant UNSC resolutions.
He reaffirmed that Kuwait will always respond to whatever moves likely to rid Iraq of its crisis and help the country counter challenges it is going through. In addition, he underscored the importance of providing relief to displaced Iraqis.
On Palestine, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled said Kuwait, in its capacity as president of the current Arab Summit, chairs the follow-up committee for the peace process.
He referred to forming an Arab delegation tasked with mustering international support to put forward a draft resolution, with a time limit, to end the Israeli occupation and seek to implement the two-state settlement.
Following a ministerial meeting in September, the Arab League announced it formed a team including Kuwait, Mauritania, Jordan, Palestine and Yemen, as well as the League's Secretary General to float the draft resolution at the UNSC.
For his part, the Egyptian Foreign Minister told the conference that the 10th Higher Committee discussed a host of regional issues of common concern, namely developments in Palestine and the political situation in Syria and Iraq, in addition to promoting bilateral ties.
On the meeting with His Highness the Amir, Shukry said that he reaffirmed support to Egypt and the roadmap.
Shukry emphasized the importance of Kuwait's participation in the March 2015 international economic event, noting that it is the second Arab investor in Egypt.
On Syria, Shukry said there is a regional and international consensus on a political settlement in the country. (pickup previous) amn.sfm.msa