A+ A-

Kuwait welcomes steps to implement peace accord in Mali

Permanent Representative at the UN headquarters in New York Ambassador Mansour Al-Otaibi
Permanent Representative at the UN headquarters in New York Ambassador Mansour Al-Otaibi
NEW YORK, Jan 17 (KUNA) -- The State of Kuwait welcomed the steps to implement the peace accord in Mali especially the appointment of temporary authorities in the areas of Kidal, Menaka, and Timbuktu as well as the process of disarming fighting groups in the West African country.
Kuwait's encouraging statement was delivered by its Permanent Representative at the UN headquarters in New York Ambassador Mansour Al-Otaibi during a UNSC meeting on Mali.
Ambassador Al-Otaibi lauded the Mali leadership for its efforts to bring stability and peace in their country, calling for more efforts to restore security.
He called on all involved parties to continue efforts for peace and stability in Mali through cooperation with the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali based on Resolution 2423.
Implementing the peace accord and national reconciliation are the best options for Mali, said Ambassador Al-Otaibi who indicated that he was looking forward to the UN Secretariat report on the implementation of peace in Mali.
While the Kuwaiti diplomat commended the efforts for peace, he urged people in Mali to avoid measures that would deteriorate the security situation especially in the central region, which saw in January first of 2018 the death of 37 civilians. The total number of deaths in Mali violence last year reached 500 people.
He lauded the efforts of national and regional forces in maintaining peace in the West African country, calling on them to cooperate with UN in accordance with resolution 2391.
Through the resolution, the Council requested the Secretary-General to conclude a technical agreement among the United Nations, the European Union and G5 Sahel States [Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger], with a view to providing operational and logistical support through the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) to the joint force conducting cross-border counter-terrorist operations across the region.
In addition to the security situation, floods in Mali added to the woes of people, leading some seven million people to lack healthcare, water, and education, said Al-Otaibi.
He called on the world to increase support development in Mali, commending the euro 2.4 billion incentive to the Sahel region countries, which came out from the Nouakchott, Mauritania, conference on December 6, 2018, the African Union's 2063 Agenda, and MINUSMA strategy. (end) asf.gta