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Kuwait's envoy to Paris hosts National Day celebrations

HE Sami Al-Sulaiman and Kuwaiti Staff on National Day in Paris
HE Sami Al-Sulaiman and Kuwaiti Staff on National Day in Paris

By John Keating

PARIS, Feb 22 (KUNA) -- Kuwaiti Ambassador to France, Sami Mohammad Al-Sulaiman hosted on Thursday a well-attended, high-level reception here to celebrate the country' 57th National Day, the 22nd anniversary of Liberation Day from Iraqi occupation, and the 12th anniversary of the assumption of power by His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
Guests gathered to honor Kuwait and congratulate nationals on this prestigious day, underlining the excellent relations between France and Kuwait over time.
Among participants were Kuwaiti embassy staff, diplomats from the various Kuwaiti missions, students, visitors and military cadets currently in France and a host of ambassadors and diplomats from many nations, Arab and other.
Senior French guests included members of government and the administration, from the French National Assembly and Senate and from the military establishment.
Business and cultural figures from French society attended in what was a colorful and vibrant reception, which included detachments from the Kuwaiti military services, which are currently in training in the French Naval College and the Saint Cyr officer school.
Kuwait's envoy indicated in comments to KUNA that he was very pleased and impressed with the high turnout and the quality and variety of guests from many sectors of French and international society.
"In my name and in the name of all the Kuwaiti offices and staff attached here, I would like to seize this precious opportunity to send my warmest congratulations to His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and to the Crown Prince, His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and to His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and to the Kuwaiti government and people on this important occasion," the Kuwaiti ambassador said to KUNA.
"We are very happy to see the extent of our good relations as attested by the large presence here of people from many different areas, government and parliament, universities, scholars and culture, business, the medical profession and many more," he remarked.
"Their presence in such high numbers and from such diverse sectors illustrates the excellent relationship between Kuwait and France," the ambassador added.
Al-Sulaiman remarked "the high standing of France" in Kuwaiti eyes after the French participation in the liberation of Kuwait from Iraqi occupation in 1990-1991.
"In my remarks this year, I have signaled our great appreciation to the French government, its brave soldiers, and to the French people," he indicated.
He also said that the improving relations with France were the fruit of hard work in recent years and he saw more scope for additional progress as the two sides were working in that direction.
"No area is excluded in our broad relations, be that political partnership or strategic dialogue or other areas," Al-Sulaiman noted, adding that Kuwait "is of course working on promoting business and economic cooperation with France" which is also an important destination for Kuwaiti students.
On the French side, the keenness to develop even closer ties was clearly expressed by French President of the France-Kuwait Friendship group in Parliament, Annaig Le Meur.
The Deputy and Secretary of the French National Assembly told KUNA she looked forward to building on the already excellent relations between the two nations.
"I have had several exchanges with the Kuwaiti ambassador here several times and we have discussed potential for economic projects in a number of areas, but I would also like to expand cultural ties with a country where we have a global geopolitical vision," Le Meur told KUNA.
"We are a friendship group and the motivation is that Kuwait shows us its assets and talents and we do the same to permit an exchange," the Deputy added.
She stressed that she would also like to expand contacts with Kuwait and Kuwaitis beyond Paris and create links between regional areas of France and the Gulf nation.
"That way, we will get to know each other better," she stated.
She said France has a lot to offer in the area of energy transition, new technologies and the ecology, which will be important in the future.
"We have always had very good ties with Kuwait, which has always been a friendly partner on the political front, which has permitted stability in a zone that has tensions. We committed at the side of Kuwait during the war (with Iraq) and it was a total commitment by France," Le Meur remarked.
"I think this partnership will remain in place because of the friendly ties reinforced by the creation of (parliamentary) friendship group with Kuwait," she added. (Pickup previous) jk.mb