Kuwait affirms condemnation of terrorist attacks on UAE

NEW YORK, Jan 20 (KUNA) -- The State of Kuwait has affirmed its condemnation of Monday's terrorist attacks that targeted civilian installations in the United Arab Emirates.
These offensives, carried out with drones unleashed by the Houthi militias, constituted explicit breach of the international and humanitarian laws, conventions, humanitarian values as well as a dangerous threat to the Gulf stability, said Ambassador Mansour Al-Otaibi, the State of Kuwait permanent representative to the UN.
Ambassador Al-Otaibi, addressing a session of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on the Middle East namely the Palestinian cause, affirmed the State of Kuwait solidarity with the UAE, supporting Abu Dhabi with respect of any steps it may take to safeguard its security and stability.
The drones' attacks targeted a fuel storage facility and a spot adjacent to Abu Dhabi Airport, killing at least three people and wounding several others.
The Kuwaiti envoy expressed condolences to the UAE for suffering victims of this terrorist offensive and wished quick recovery for the injured.
Kuwait is keen on partaking in such debates within quarters of the UNSC "out of our belief in the significance of the Palestinian cause as a central issue for the Arab and Muslim nations," ambassador Al-Otaibi said.
He reiterated support for the UN efforts to restore stability to the occupied Palestinian territories, ensure delivery of humanitarian aid to victims of the Israeli crimes and attacks on the Palestinian people.
"It is rather regretful that we begin the new year from the point that closed the past year, where Israel, the power undertaking the occupation, pursues its belligerent policy against the unarmed Palestinian people and its schemes to annex more Palestinian territories in the West Bank including East Jerusalem," he said further.
Recent UN reports affirm that Israel's settlement policy is continuing in the West Bank, where the Israeli authorities approve applications for building hundreds of new residential units in the illegal settlements, he said.
These reports have also warned of mounting violence perpetrated by the settlers against the Palestinian people, namely the elderly, the women and the children, seizing their properties and lands in addition to demolishing their houses without any retribution for these crimes.
He affirmed the urgent need to halt such acts to avert re-eruption of violence, reminiscent to the events last year when 324 Palestinian were killed and 850 houses were destroyed, in addition to forcing 1,000 others from their houses.
The Israeli crimes not only jeopardize any chance to resume negotiations, but also maintain the approach to Judaize Jerusalem and undermine the aspired two state settlement, thus depriving the Palestinians any opportunity to establish a viable, sovereign and independent state.
The State of Kuwait, he has noted, re-affirms its condemnation of these Israeli schemes and violations, the necessity to abstain from desecrating the special status of Jerusalem and nullifying any measure against it, ambassador Al-Otaibi stressed, also calling for action to halt the illegitimate Israeli practices that violate the 1949 fourth Geneva convention. He also urged for coercing Israel to implement all relevant UNSC resolutions namely resolution 2334.
He called on the stakeholders namely the International Quartet to re-launch the peace negotiations and address the issue of establishing the Palestinian state.
In Conclusion, he underlined the crucial role of the UN agency that cares for the Palestinian refugees, the UNRWA, urging member states to continue with their financial contributions to the agency, noting that Kuwait donated USD 21.5 million for it to ensure ongoing services and aid for the refugees. (end) asf.rk