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Kuwait, France urge security in Syria, Yemen

Kuwait's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah and French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe
Kuwait's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah and French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe
KUWAIT, Nov 22 (KUNA) -- Kuwait's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah and French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe called here Tuesday for restoring security and stability in Syria and Yemen, and for preventing more bloodshed there.
The remarks were made by both ministers at a joint news conference following the conclusion of the 8th Forum for the Future.
They hailed the outcomes of the forum as running for the common interest of all countries of the forum.
The Kuwaiti minister said the gathering comes at a time when the region is witnessing major events, and that is why the forum is very significant.
The forum discussed everything that could lead to security, stability and prosperity in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), he said.
Deauville Partnership declaration targeting boosted democracy, civil participation, the rule of law, human rights and open market economy is a fresh mechanism for maintaining security, stability and growth in the region, he added.
Reiterating Arab support for security and stability in Syria, the Kuwaiti foreign minister said Arab foreign ministers would meet on Thursday to look into the findings of an Arab fact-finding committee on Syria.
Additional steps are to be taken by Arab countries to restore security and stability in Syria, to keep its position and to protect its people, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid said.
On Yemen, he said the Gulf initiative designed to resolve the current situation in Yemen had enjoyed international support following a relevant recent resolution by the UN Security Council.
He hoped that Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh would sign the document soon in order to spare Yemen more bloodshed, and to take steps to restore security, stability and prosperity.
On recent events in Kuwait, he denied reports on a recent US message to the Kuwaiti government, criticizing steps by the Kuwaiti government to deal with recent protests in the country.
"As the foreign minister of the State of Kuwait, it's the first time for me to hear about such a message," he said.
"Kuwaiti-US relations are based on ties of friendship, which are based on international principles, mutual respect and non-interference in each other's domestic affairs," he added.
"Our friends in the US are well aware that the State of Kuwait enjoys a constitution and respects laws, and that all measures taken by the government come within the framework of the Constitution and law," he added.
For his part, the French foreign minister condemned human rights violations in Syria.
But, he hailed Arab efforts aiming to resolve the current situation in this Arab country.
He also called for more coordination between the European Union (EU), Turkey and Arab countries for "boosting Syria's isolation," imposing more sanctions on the Syrian government and holding dialogue with Syrian opposition and helping it to become a reliable alternative to the current regime.
On Yemen, he reiterated his country's support for the Gulf initiative designed to put an end to the current situation in the country.
He hoped that the Yemeni president would sign the initiative soon in order to end the conflict that has claimed the lives of a large number of people.
Asked about the way the members of the Forum can adopt to support youth, civil society institutions and development, he said Deauville Partnership is mainly directed towards governments, rather than civil society.
He recalled to memory that the international community and international financial institutions had pledged USD 77-80 billion for some countries.
But, he called for those countries involved; notably Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan, Libya and Morocco, to define their priorities, needs and projects to be financed.
On the role of France and G8 members in the "Arab Spring" countries, he said this role is to support political transition and economic development there.
However, he applauded recent promising reforms in some Arab countries, including Jordan and Morocco and transition in Tunisia.
Finally, he reaffirmed that his country has no plan for military intervention in Syria due to three reasons. First, Syrian opposition wants to continue working peacefully. Second, Arab countries have not asked for military support. Third, there is no hope to obtain a relevant UNSC resolution due to Russia's potential veto. (pickup previous) kt.mt KUNA 230058 Nov 11NNNN