Date : 02/06/2007
(WITH POL-EAST-TIMOR-KUWAIT)
By Kawthar Al-Ghanim
KUWAIT, June 2 (KUNA) -- His Highness the Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh
Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah continues his Asian tour, visiting East
Timor, a country bound with diplomatic ties with the Gulf state since four
years ago.
Kuwait established full diplomatic relation with East Timor in 2003 when
the two countries signed a protocol of diplomatic representation at the level
of ambassadors, following East Timor's independence in 2001.
Although the government of East Timor was in exile in 1990 and was an
observer in the United Nations (UN) with no right to vote, it supported Kuwait
and its rights during the Iraqi invasion, a stand that was highly appreciated
by Kuwait.
In 2004, Kuwait was the only Arab country to participate in the
international donors conference for East Timor that was held in Dili, the East
Timorese capital, with the participation of 250 states.
At the conference, the East Timor's President hailed Kuwait's support to
the third-world countries and said it would be the representative of all
countries in the Middle East.
Former Prime Minister of East Timor Mari Al-Katiri visited Kuwait in 2004.
It was the first official visit of an East Timorese political figure to Kuwait
and Al-Katiri's second visit to a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) state, as he
had visited the United Arab Emirates in 2003.
Kuwaiti Ambassador to Indonesia Mohammad Fathil Khalaf presented his
credentials to the East Timorese government as a as non-resident Ambassador in
2005.
In 2006, East Timorese Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta visited Kuwait and
the signed several Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)s 2006 on developing the
economic and the activation of strategic partnerships ties with Kuwait.
Economic agreements between the two countries are related to petroleum
exploration, the exchange of banking expertise, and Kuwait's participation in
activating tourism in East Timor.
In August 2006, following East Timor's call for help, Kuwait sent to it the
first batch of aid that consisted of medicine, fully equipped ambulances, a
mobile medical unit, blankets, and other supplies.
Represented by the Kuwait Red Crescent Society, Kuwait established a USD
600,000 water desalination plant in East Timor, that suffers shortage of
water. (end)
kg.ris
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