Kuwait FM continues bilateral meetings in New York

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 28 (KUNA) -- Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah on Friday discussed bilateral relations with a number of Foreign Ministers of friendly countries in the margins of the General Assembly's 62nd session.
He met with his Lebanese counterpart Fawzi Salloukh who told KUNA and Kuwait TV following the meeting that Lebanon highly appreciates and warmly thanks the Kuwaiti Government and people for the assistance they provided to Lebanon, and which helped many Lebanese regain their homes in the south and elsewhere.
He said he also discussed with Sheikh Mohammed the Palestinian question and the US-proposed Peace Conference to be held in Washington next November.
He later told KUNA in answer to a question that Sheikh Mohammed inquired about the latest regarding the establishment of the Rafik Hariri Independent Tribunal, and added "we hope that friendly countries will contribute to its financing, because it is important that the tribunal prosecute the criminals who organized that ugly crime so that they get what they deserve." The US announced late Thursday that it is contributing USD five million to the Tribunal which will be based in The Hague, the Netherlands.
Sheikh Mohammed also met with the Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Vladimir Norov who told KUNA following the meeting that they discussed bilateral relations in the fields of trade and culture.
He recalled that Tashkent, the capital, was proclaimed this year the capital of Islamic culture by the Islamic Cultural, Educational, and Scientific Conference Organization (ICESCO) and that this year Uzbekistan also organized an international conference on the role of Uzbekistan in developing the Islamic Civilization.
He said two Kuwaiti Ministers attended that Conference: the Minister of Education and of Islamic Affairs.
Norov also said the two Ministers coordinated their positions over "important issues which are of interest" to both countries.
Sheikh Mohammed also met with the Foreign Minister of Congo Basile Ikouebe who told KUNA following the meeting that the two ministers exchanged views on bilateral issues in light of the Congolese President's intention to visit Kuwait "at the proper time." He said the Kuwait Fund for Development began its assistance to Congo in the 1970s, such as the project of the rail road in Congo.
"It's the Kuwaiti Fund that, in general, assist in financing projects in Congo and the proposed visit aims at exploring the sectors where the fund can assist. On our part we strive to pay our debts to Kuwait.
He said they also discussed the situation in the Middle East and the positive prospective for an International Peace Conference in Washington next November.
He said Congo, as a Security Council non permanent member, is pushing for the renewal of dialogue in order to avoid further deterioration of the situation.
Sheikh Mohammed also discussed bilateral relations with Song Min-Soon, the Minister of Foreign Minister and Trade of South Korea, Adrian Cloroianu, the Foreign Minister of Romania, Baldwin Spencer, the Foreign Minister of Antigua and Barbuda and Hussein Elabe Fahiye, Foreign Minister of Somalia. (end) sj.bs KUNA 282203 Sep 07NNNN