By Khaled Al-Daihani
BIRMINGHAM, Oct 5 (KUNA) -- Kuwaiti Ambassador to the UK Khaled Al-Duweisan hailed the strong British-Arab ties, noting that the UK can play a vital role in bringing peace and stability to the Arab World.
Al-Duweisan's statement was made to KUNA and Kuwait TV late Tuesday, after a banquet held with Arab ambassadors in the UK, on the sidelines of a conference of the UK's Conservative Party. The party was represented by Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Boris Johnson and Secretary of State for Middle East and Africa Tobias Ellwood.
Arab states are optimistic about the UK's role in resolving security issues, as the region is facing the hardest time with wars and conflicts in Syria, Libya and other countries, he said.
In response to a question asked by KUNA on the effect of the Brexit vote on the British-Arab ties, the ambassador noted that senior British officials said this step will allow the UK to have more freedom in cooperation with the Arabs on different levels, without referring to the EU's terms.
On his part, Bahraini Ambassador to the UK Sheikh Fawaz bin Mohammad Al Khalifa said the Brexit decision will not affect the strong relations between the Gulf States and the UK.
Directly after the Brexit vote, the Gulf States expressed their eagerness to further develop trade with the UK by signing a free trade agreement, he noted.
He said that the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Abdullatif Al-Zayani and the UK's Secretary of State for International Trade Liam Fox have recently discussed the terms of signing such an agreement during their meeting in London.
Sheikh Fawaz added that Fox will take part in the upcoming meeting of GCC ministers of commerce to be held in Riyadh next month, where the two sides will discuss the agreement.(end) kd.ag