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Kuwait Amir''s ACD sponsorship reflects Kuwait''s diplomatic role - Jarallah

KUWAIT, Oct 7 (KUNA) -- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's sponsorship of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Forum due in Kuwait next week comes in harmony with Kuwait's pioneering diplomatic role, a senior Kuwaiti official said here Friday.
This shows HH the Amir's keenness on ensuring a successful forum and reactivating inter-Asian cooperation, Undersecretary of the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry Khaled Al-Jarallah said in an interview to Kuwait TV.
Kuwait is taking over the forum presidency as of October for a year, he said.
He vowed that his country would do its best to promote and highlight the message of this gathering, together with its great and pioneering role.
"We are seeking to work out a long-term continental strategy as there are interests for Asian countries that need to be translated and considered," he said.
Established in 2001, this year's mainly economic forum will be the 10th of its kind. Kuwait joined it in 2003, he added.
The gathering aims to allow Asian countries to play a role in the global economy amid international economic blocs thanks to their potential, he said, mentioning in particular China, Japan and India.
He stressed the pivotal and key role of Kuwaiti mass media in highlighting the significance of this event and in promoting Kuwaiti diplomacy which was laid down by the "pioneer of Kuwaiti diplomacy, HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah".
Thanks to the fervent follow-up of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, Kuwaiti diplomacy is seeking to reactivate Kuwait's role, he noted.
He promised that Kuwait would seize the opportunity of this gathering as a jumping-off for its economic development blueprint.

Al-Jarallah went on to speak highly of cooperation between ASEAN and GCC member states as having made many accomplishments.
But, he said this cooperation, nevertheless, is not so enough that broader vistas need to be sought in order to boost Asian development and welfare.
Asked if the forum could be capitalized on to raise the Palestinian cause, he said: "Surely, we can never isolate the political aspect from the economic one, especially as we are seeking to create an appropriate economic atmosphere for Asian cooperation. This economic atmosphere cannot be appropriate, suitable or fruitful unless a congenial political climate is created." "Thus, the Asian countries will be interested in the region's political issues, as they have their own interests in the region so they will be eager to provide a congenial political atmosphere. That atmosphere cannot be created as long as the Middle Eastern peace process is faltering," he believed.
"This peace and this economic environment cannot be achieved amid such disputes and problems haunting Asia. Thence, these Asian nations will seek, willingly or unwillingly, to put an end to such disputes and to reactivate the international role in resolving them. The Palestinian cause in the Middle East, which is in the heart of Asia, is a relevant example," he noted.
Back to the forum, the senior Kuwaiti official said the gathering would come up with Kuwait Declaration, which is expected to include the concerns of Asian countries over world issues, chiefly economy, international crises, environment, energy, climate change and poverty in Asian countries.
However, he admitted that it is not so easy to create common harmony among the participating countries, but there is a minimum limit for agreement.
He vowed that his country, during its presidency of the forum, would work hard to reactivate cooperation and to set out binding common mechanisms.
It has taken very long years from the EU to reach the current level of cooperation among its member states, he said, hoping that the forum, comparatively, would reach the level of making recommendations.
But, he regretted that a sufficient mechanism for implementing proposals to be mentioned in Kuwait Declaration has not been found yet.
Meanwhile, he pointed to Kuwait's hosting of the Forum for the Future, which will attract 44 countries, including the G8, the EU and Arab countries.
Both gatherings reflect Kuwait's eagerness to play its due role on the international arena, he boasted.
Asked if the forum could be a springboard for Asian countries to have a higher voice at international organizations, especially in the economic field, Al-Jarallah said: "Yes, I think so. We are seeking to help our countries have a voice heard at international organizations.

 For his part, the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry's Protocol Chief Ambassador Dhari Al-Ajran, said the forum will discuss economic crises in Asian countries, available investment openings and utilization of natural resources in Asia.
"It is a dialogue forum that deals with issues through ideas to be suggested by all delegations and countries. Eventually, Kuwait Declaration will be produced; including recommendations," he said.
On the forum's program and activities, Al-Ajran said the delegations are expected to arrive here on Saturday, and a troika meeting involving Kuwait, Iran, Tajikistan and Thailand will be held.
A meeting of senior officials of the member states is to be held on Sunday under the chairmanship of the Foreign Ministry's Undersecretary, he said.
HH the Amir will inaugurate the gathering on Monday. HH and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah will be addressing the event, he added.
A ministerial meeting will begin on Monday and last until Tuesday. It will be followed by a concluding session where Kuwait Declaration is to be made.
The foreign ministers of Kuwait, the current chair of the forum, Tajikistan, the next chair, and the deputy foreign minister of Thailand, the general coordinator, will then hold a press conference, he elaborated.
The forum is expected to thrash out an array of issues, chiefly the global financial crisis, transport, environment, culture, arts and youth.
It mainly aims to prop up common interaction among Asian countries to fight poverty, improve living conditions, broaden trade and financial markets and boost the competitive edge of the forum's member states. (end) ms.tb.mt KUNA 072304 Oct 11NNNN