By Nasser Al-Otaibi
KUWAIT, Jan 29 (KUNA) -- Kuwait is "more than capable" of contributing to peace in the Middle East, despite the challenges that come with its newly obtained non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), said a British minister.
In an interview with KUNA on Monday, Britain's Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa Alistair Burt said Kuwait joining the UNSC comes amid eventful times, as the UN body grapples with crises in Syria and Yemen. He expressed his concern over veto power in the UNSC, especially as it relates to humanitarian issues, saying that his country will back up Kuwait in its two-year stint in the UNSC.
On the Gulf diplomatic row, Burt said that Britain highly appreciates Kuwait's efforts to defuse tensions in the Gulf region.
The British minister commended Kuwait for hosting a February 12-14 conference over the reconstruction of war-torn Iraq, saying he was sanguine the event would meet its objectives.
On Turkey's military intervention in Syria, Burt called on Ankara to be vigilant and focus on the fight against terrorism, chiefly, the so-called Islamic State (IS).
He weighed in on US President Donald Trump's decision to move the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, saying that his country does not have similar plans.
Meanwhile, on Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Burt stressed that Jerusalem should be the joint capital between harmonious Palestinian and Israeli states.
He also hailed the long-standing camaraderie between his country and Kuwait, citing exceptional ties in sectors running the gamut from education and aviation to trade. (end) nma.msa.nam