By Ahmad Mousa
KUWAIT, Feb 19 (KUNA) -- Celebrating his 13th anniversary as Crown Prince on Wednesday, February 20, His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, along with His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, are both viewed by the people as members of the founding fathers of the modern country.
In line with an Amiri decree on February 7, 2006, His Highness the Crown Prince became the closest aide of His Highness the Amir in his efforts to continue building the modern state and the march towards development and prosperity.
After the MPs unanimously approved the nomination, His Highness the Crown Prince was sworn in at the National Assembly and took up his duties on February 20, 2006.
His Highness the Crown Prince offered, over the last decades, outstanding contributions to Kuwait's drive to become a modern, advanced and prosperous country.
He was nominated by the late Amir Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah as governor of Hawalli on February 21, 1961, and maintained the post until March 19, 1978; during this period, Kuwait gained independence from Britain in June 1961.
He served as minister of interior between March 19, 1978, and February 26, 1988, when he took up the portfolio of defense during the reign of late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
After Kuwait liberation from the Iraqi invasion, he served as minister of social affairs and labor between April 20, 1991, and October 19, 1992.
His Highness Sheikh Nawaf was nominated as deputy chief of the National Guard on October 16, 1994, until July 13, 2003, when he was designated to the portfolio of the interior.
On October 16, 2003, he was nominated as first deputy prime minister and minister of interior and maintained the post until February 7, 2006, when he was designated as Crown Prince.
During his tenure as governor of Hawalli, he was able to turn the governorate from a primitive village into a lively business center featured by modern urban planning and economic activities.
As minister of interior, His Highness Sheikh Nawaf managed to preserve the security and stability of the country and address all concerns of the public through introducing the latest security systems and equipment, and building the capacity of the police personnel.
He optimized use of the information technologies in the combat against all forms of crimes and tightening the control over the borders.
He laid down a comprehensive strategy for preserving the security on along the land and maritime borders, thus denying access to hostile infiltrators who might tamper with the security and stability of the country.
During his tenure as minister of defense, His Highness Sheikh Nawaf upgraded the army through modern training and provision of the latest weapons.
As minister of social affairs and labor following the Iraqi invasion of 1990, he made remarkable humanitarian achievements in caring for the widows and orphans and bereaved elderly people. He also rehabilitated the labor market through helping the workers resume their jobs after the liberation war.
During the catastrophe of invasion, His Highness Sheikh Nawaf contributed to security the safe travel of the legitimate authorities to neighborly Saudi Arabia and mobilizing, later on, the military and civilian resources for resistance against the Iraqi occupation forces.
When the country was hit by terrorist attacks in January 2005, His Highness Sheikh Nawaf led the war against terrorism until he made sure that all terrorist cells were thoroughly broken.
On the regional front, His Highness Sheikh Nawaf attached great importance to the security of the Arabian Gulf states. He played an active role in the meetings of interior ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states with a view to joining forces against common threats, notably those relating to terrorism.
In 2018, His Highness the Crown Prince was honored by visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas with a medal for his supportive stance towards the people of Palestine. (end) mad.gta