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US Pres. Trump acclaims His Highness the Amir's Mideast role

US President Donald Trump
US President Donald Trump
WASHINGTON, Oct 21 (KUNA) -- US President Donald Trump lauded His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and his influential role in the Middle East region.
In statements to the audience at a special ceremony held at the Kuwaiti Embassy in Washington for honoring the US First Lady Melania Trump for her humanitarian services, the US President thanked His Highness the Amir of Kuwait "for all that he is doing in the region," saying "there is a lot of things happening in the Middle East." He recalled his meeting with His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in September, saying "I met a man who is really helping us, really very strongly helping us in the Middle East." The US president also thanked everyone for this special evening and thanked the Kuwait-America Foundation for honoring Melania Trump. The dazzling gala dinner for UNHCR, hosted by Kuwait's Ambassador to the US Sheikh Salem Al-Sabah and his wife Sheikha Rima Al-Sabah honoring Melania Trump, the recipient of the Kuwait-America Foundation 2017 Humanitarian Award, comes less than a year since the Trumps' moved into the White House, which highlights the close ties Kuwait and the US share.
President Trump described Kuwait's Ambassador to Washington Sheikh Salem Al-Sabah and his wife Sheikha Rima Al-Sabah "as very special people who have become friends." During the evening, the Senate passed its fiscal year 2018 Budget Resolution, where Trump had received the news and told the crowd that the Ambassador and his wife "must be good luck." "On behalf of my entire cabinet who are here tonight. We have a lot of them, I want to thank everybody in this room. We've all come together as a family very much. The world is actually coming together," he remarked.
Furthermore, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in his remarks that "one reason we are here tonight is to celebrate the flourishing and always strong US-Kuwaiti partnership." He affirmed that Kuwait "is an important strategic partner for the US in the Middle East and our relationship is growing." He recalled His Highness the Amir's meeting with Trump in September, re-emphasizing they had "an extraordinary, important and valuable meeting right here in Washington." He shed light on the "productive" strategic dialogue held between Kuwait and the US during the visit of His Highness the Amir that addressed defense, trade and a range of other issues.
"We welcome Kuwait's recent commitments to several of Trump's regional priorities," he noted, as Kuwait "responded to Trump's historic call for action" during the Riyadh Summit to defeat the so-called Islamic State (IS) and prevent terrorism and violent extremism." He praised the role Kuwait played "to diplomatically seek a resolution" for the ongoing Gulf crisis.
He highlighted Kuwait's generosity, saying "Kuwait has also generously provided important support to humanitarian initiatives in the wake of the (IS) related violence in Iraq and Syria.
"Kuwait remains the UNHCR's largest donor from the Middle East and North Africa and Kuwait has also contributed large amounts of money in bilateral assistance to Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and Iraq to support their efforts," as those countries host refugees from Syria and other parts of the region, he added.
"The US is proud to have a partner so deeply committed to address and provide for displaced persons," he remarked.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres said in his remarks that the Ambassador "has the privileged to serve one country and one leader that he admires," and that Kuwait under the leadership of His Highness the Amir "represent the most fantastic combination of wisdom and generosity." He added that in the Middle East today, His Highness the Amir has been "a constant voice for reconciliation, dialogue, a bridge builder and a messenger for peace.
"As the Syrian people began to suffer from a horrendous situation, where the world was largely blind and deaf in relation to humanitarian consequences of the war, His Highness the Amir assumed the leadership during which the international community convened three successful donor conferences," he remarked.
Lastly, Guterres paid tribute to Melania Trump saying he is very impressed by what she has done and what she has achieved with the center of it all being the well-being and development of children whom are the passion of her private and public life.
The gala dinner was also attended by Secretary of Treasury Steven Mnuchin, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, US Permanent Representative to the UN Nikki Haley, Senior Advisor of the President Jared Kushner, Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump, National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster, Chairman of Council of Economic Advisors Gary Cohn, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, several of the Congress members, a number of the Gulf ambassadors to the US, including Saudi Arabia's Ambassador Prince Khaled bin Salman and several of the Arab and foreign ambassadors. (end) si.ibi