By Abdelwaheb Al-Gueyed
VIENNA, Nov 18 (KUNA) -- Ambassador Ralph Scheide, Deputy Director General for Political Affairs and Director of the Near and Middle East and Africa Department of Austria's Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs, hailed on Tuesday the planned Arab economic, social and development summit, due in Kuwait in January, 2009.
In an exclusive interview with KUNA here, Scheide praised the steadily growing ties between Austria on one hand and Kuwait and the other Arab countries on the other.
"Kuwait is a close ally of Austria and key player in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
"Kuwait is making praiseworthy efforts to push forward the Middle East peace process and stabilize the situations in Iraq and other parts of the Middle East.
"Austria takes pride in its friendly ties with Kuwait and the other Arab countries," he underscored.
"The exchanged visits between top officials of both sides help promote the bilateral ties," he said.
Scheide recalled the recent visit to Kuwait by Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs Ursula Plassnik and her constant contacts with Kuwaiti Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah.
"Austrian President Heinz Fischer is scheduled to pay an official visit to Kuwait soon and preparations for the visit are well underway," Scheide said without giving the exact date of the visit.
"Austria seeks to enhance the economic and commercial ties between its firms and the Kuwaiti peers," he affirmed.
As per the Arab economic, social and development summit, Scheide said it would take place at a crucial time against the backdrop of the current international financial crisis and global economic slowdown.
"The Arab world is in dire need of such summit to minimize the impacts of the current crisis and fulfill the aspirations of the Arab nations for prosperity and welfare," the Austrian official underscored.
Concerning the Arab-Israeli conflict, he said Austria has always sought to achieve a peaceful settlement of the conflict before and after joining the European Union.
"Austria backs the two-state solution aiming to create an independent Palestinian state living in peace with Israel," he pointed out.
The Austrian official hailed the decision of the Palestinian diplomacy to choose his country as the venue of the conference of Palestinian ambassadors to international organizations based in Vienna.
Vienna is the third headquarters of the Secretariat of the United Nations (UN).
The Vienna International Centre (VIC), which was opened in 1979, houses the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Office for Outer Space Affairs (OOSA), the Division of Administrative and Common Services (DACS), the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) and the United Nations Commission on International Trade (UNCITRAL).
It is also the seat of the UN Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) the branch-office of the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), the regional bureau of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Secretariat of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River, the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and the European Monitoring Center on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC).
"Austria has been elected a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the third time which indicates the international status of the Central European country and its active role in enhancing international peace and security," Scheide pointed out.
"Austria, as a firm supporter of the Palestinian people, backs the ongoing Egyptian efforts to restore the national unity among Palestinians," he added. (end) amg.gb KUNA 181941 Nov 08NNNN