A+ A-

Al-Jarallah: Kuwait works hard at UNSC to resolve Arab crises

Kuwait's Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah
Kuwait's Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah
CAIRO, Sept 10 (KUNA) -- Kuwait's Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah has shone the spotlight on Kuwait's efforts at the UN Security Council to defend and resolve Arab causes over the past 20 months.
Speaking at the 152nd session of the Arab foreign ministers council in Cairo Tuesday, Al-Jarallah said Kuwait had focused during its non-permanent membership at the UNSC to support and promulgate Arab causes.
"Kuwait has worked hard to find appropriate solutions to crises that exhausted the Arab region and undermined its security, stability and prosperity," the senior diplomat asserted.
He noted that the Palestinian cause was on the top of Kuwait's agenda at the UNSC.
During Kuwait's Presidency of the UNSC in February 2018, the council hosted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, he pointed out.
Al-Jarallah stated that Kuwait had also presented a draft resolution to the UNSC in June 2018 to provide international protection to civilian in Palestinian territories.
Kuwait also requested holding of several special sessions to discuss developments in the Palestinian territories as well as on the US decision to move its embassy to the occupied Jerusalem, the Israeli massacring Palestinian protesters and the illegal Israeli settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories, he elaborated.
He underscored that the Kuwaiti efforts in the UNSC were meant to back the Palestinian cause and help resolve it in accordance with the UN resolutions and the Arab peace initiative that call for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
On Yemen, Al-Jarallah indicated that Kuwait had striven to defend Yemeni people's interests and the efforts of the Saudi-led coalition to support legitimacy in Yemen.
Kuwait believed that launching a political process based on the three agreed references and the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, in particular resolution No. 2216, was the optimal solution to the crisis in Yemen, he affirmed.
He reiterated Kuwait's support to the UNSC resolutions No. 2451 and No. 2452 which ratified the three-point Stockholm agreement.
"We also support efforts of the UN secretary general's envoy to Yemen to resume consultations with all parties to reach a comprehensive political agreement that meets brotherly Yemeni people's aspirations," he said.
Al-Jarallah reiterated Kuwait's condemnation of all missile and drone attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
He expressed Kuwait's deep concerns about the recent incidents in Yemen which were not good for its security and stability.
"Kuwait supports the sincere efforts of our brothers in Saudi Arabia to persuade different Yemeni parties to resume dialogue," he said.
He also voiced Kuwait's satisfaction with Jeddah statement on this issue.
On Syria, the deputy foreign minister recalled that Kuwait was one of three co-penholders for the humanitarian situation in Syria together with Germany and Belgium.
Kuwait's efforts had also led to the adoption of UNSCR No. 2401 which called for a 30-day truce across Syria, he said.
He shed lights on Kuwait's spearheading of UNSC efforts in collaboration with Sweden to approve UNSCR No. 2449 which authorized one-year extension of cross-border aid deliveries targeting 13 million people in Syria.
Furthermore, Al-Jarallah announced that Kuwait was currently working with both Belgium and Germany to prepare a draft resolution calling for cessation of hostilities in the northwestern Syrian Province of Idlib.
Kuwait had always stated that there was no military solution to the crisis in Syria and that the only solution was a political settlement based on the UNSCR No. 2254 and the Geneva communique of 2012, he stressed, voicing Kuwait's support to UN envoy's efforts to resume political process and form a constitutional committee as soon as possible.
On Libya, Al-Jarallah expressed support to the efforts of the UN envoy to Libya.
Kuwait had underlined the importance of de-escalation and cessation of hostilities in Libya and the resumption of the political process under the auspices of the United Nations, he said.
On efforts to establish peace in the troubled areas in Sudan, Al-Jarallah pointed out that Kuwait, during its membership in the UN Security Council and in collaboration with other members, had succeeded in setting 2020 as a date for starting a gradual pullout of UNAMID forces from Darfur.
On Iraq, deputy foreign minister shed lights on Kuwait's initiation, during its presidency of the Council, of an "historic visit" of the 15 members of the UN Security Council to Iraq on June 29, 2019.
This visit, co-chaired by Kuwait and the United States, was concluded with a statement expressing the UNSC support for the Iraqi government efforts to eliminate terrorism and the rebuild areas liberated from the so-called Islamic State group, he clarified.
On Lebanon, Al-Jarallah noted that Kuwait had been working in the UNSC to support Lebanon's demands to implement the UNSCR No. 1701 to put an end to Israel's violations of its sovereignty.
Kuwait's mission had participated in negotiations over the UNSCR resolution No. 2485 to extend mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for one year, which was adopted unanimously on July 29, 2019, he said.
He disclosed that Kuwait had managed to include a paragraph in the resolution condemning the Israeli violation of Lebanese airspace.
Last June, Kuwait has also helped organize a special UNSC session on upgrading UNSC and Arab League cooperation to retain regional peace and security.
Meanwhile, Al-Jarallah voiced concerns about the escalation in the Arabian Gulf region, describing it as a direct threat to the stability of the region.
He urged all relevant parties to practice exercise self-restraint and to respect the rules of international maritime law.
He stressed the importance of intensifying diplomatic efforts and coordination with the international community to defuse tension and spare the region all imminent dangers.
He congratulated Foreign Minister of Sudan Asmaa Abdullah on her new post, wishing her success in her mission.
Al-Jarallah congratulated Sudan on the signing of the power-sharing deal and the formation a new government headed by Dr. Abdullah hamdok and wishing him success in achieving the aspirations the Sudanese people.
He extended sincere congratulations to the sisterly Republic of Tunisia on its non-permanent membership of the Security Council, to start next year.
He expressed confidence that Tunisia would be the best representative of the Arab region in this important international forum.
Al-Jarallah affirmed Kuwait's readiness to provide all necessary support to Tunisia render its membership in the UNSC successful. (end) ms.rg.ibi