Kuwaiti FM leaves Paris for home after attending Libya conference

By John Keating PARIS, Sept 2 (KUNA) - Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah departed Paris Friday afternoon after attending the international "Friends of Libya" conference that was convened here on Thursday.
Sheikh Dr. Mohammed, who was HH the Amir's envoy at the event, delivered an address to the Libya conference that gathered 63 delegations, including almost 20 Heads of State, in the French capital.
"Libya will see a new era featuring security, stability, and respect for rights, freedoms and equality," the Kuwaiti official told participants at the meeting.
"I would like to seize this opportunity to pay tribute to the sons of Libya who sacrificed themselves in defense of the liberty and dignity of their homeland," he added.
He also stressed the generosity of Kuwait in donating substantial humanitarian aid to Libya and the refugees from the conflict. Kuwait has pledged USD 180 million in aid for refugees, medical and humanitarian supplies and also to help rehabilitate Libya's energy sector. Much of the the assistance was channeled early in the conflict via the Kuwaiti Red Crescent Society (KRCS), which reacted in February when the crisis first emerged.
The Kuwaiti FM indicated that he was pleased with the results of the conference that freed up USD 15 billion in frozen Libyan assets and vowed to continue support for the political transistion that is now imminent. The Foreign Minister also stressed to KUNA that "the work on the Libyan issue must now continue in (the United Nations) in New York." The UN is to take a leading role in the reconstruction and transition in Libya, the conference participants agreed here Thursday.
The Kuwaiti FM was seen off at the airport by Kuwait's Ambassador to France, Ali Suleiman Al-Saeid, Kuwaiti diplomats and embassy staff. He had been accompanied to the conference by Acting Minister and his office Director, Saleh Al-Loghani, and the Kuwaiti Ambassador to Libya, Mubarak Al-Adwani, in addition to other Foreign Ministry officials. (End) jk.ajs KUNA 021521 Sep 11NNNN