Day: 20 June 2023

Kuwait is a close and solid partner of the international community in combating terrorism, affirmed the assistant foreign minister on Monday.

Addressing the third high-level UN conference for heads of intelligence and anti-terrorism agencies, Assistant Foreign Minister for Development and International Cooperation Ambassador Hamad Al-Mashaan asserted Kuwait’s commitment to support the diverse international mechanisms for combating terrorism.

He noted that Kuwait plays a prominent role in the international coalition against ISIS and leads the international working group to prevent the flow of foreign terrorist fighters together with The Netherlands and Turkiye.

“Kuwait has secured and facilitated the repatriation of 667 foreign fighters and their families since 2019,” he clarified. Al-Mashaan reiterated Kuwait’s call for repatriation of foreign terrorist fighters and their families and reintegrating them in their countries in order to achieve social cohesion and sustainable peace.

He recalled that Kuwait had hosted several meetings in the working group to prevent the flow of foreign terrorist fighters since 2017.

He added that a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law and the Kuwait Institute for Judicial and Legal Studies in December 2022, and a workshop was held in January 2023 in Malta between the Institute and a number of Kuwaiti bodies on protecting the non-profit sector from its misuse for financing terrorism.

Al-Mashaan underlined that Kuwait is fully aware of the danger of terrorism and the need to combat it, as this issue occupies the highest priority of its foreign policy.

The conference, which was inaugurated earlier today by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, discusses ways to combat terrorism and prevent its spread.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

Kuwait pledged Monday to provide USD six million to back non-governmental Kuwaiti humanitarian institutions working in Sudan.

The announcement was made by Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva Ambassador Nasser Al-Hain during a high-level international donors conference for Sudan held in Geneva today.

Since the eruption of Sudan’s crisis, Kuwait has sent over 120 tons of urgent relief and medical aid to Sudan, he said.

The step comes out of Kuwait’s humanitarian and ethical responsibilities, he elaborated, expressing Kuwait’s commitment to, and solidarity with, international efforts aiming to back humanitarian situation in Sudan and neighboring countries.

Ambassador Al-Hain said that Sudan’s humanitarian crisis requires creating a unified international vision to share burdens and responsibilities, reduce pressure on host countries, and support political tracks to address the roots of crisis by encouraging preventive diplomacy and resolving conflicts through political dialogue and supporting efforts mediation.

In a statement to KUNA after the session, Al-Hain said Kuwait has been among the first countries, which sent humanitarian aid to Sudan.

This comes upon the orders from His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on launching an air humanitarian bridge working periodically, he made clear.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

European Union Energy Ministers during their formal meeting in Luxembourg on Monday discussed developments in the field of external energy relations.

“I provided the ministers with a snapshot of our external energy outreach during the (EU) Swedish presidency. It is crucial for Europe to maintain a good network with our reliable suppliers, and I continue to make this a priority,” EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson told a news conference after the meeting this evening.

She provided an overview of the main developments in the field of external energy relations and informed ministers on upcoming initiatives in the field of international energy relations.

Simson said Russian LNG imports to EU remain limited, and over time there will be more space to further reduce them.

“I clearly welcome the initiatives taken by the different governments to call on their companies not to sign any new Russian LNG contracts,” she added.

The ministers reached a general approach on a proposal for regulation on wholesale energy market integrity and transparency, said an EU statement released after the meeting.

The proposal aims to support an open and fair competition in the European wholesale energy markets, by banning trading based on inside information and deterring market manipulation.

The incoming EU Spanish presidency which takes over from Sweden in July presented its work programme.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

The State of Kuwait urged the warring parties in Sudan to restore calm and stability, practice self-restraint, engage in peaceful dialogue, and put the interests of the Sudanese people above all considerations.

Counsellor of Kuwait Mission to the UN Office in Geneva Abdullah Al-Khubaizi highlighted, in a speech on Tuesday to an enhanced interactive dialogue held by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on the situation of human rights in Sudan, the linkage between political stability and economic recovery.

Counsellor Al-Khubaizi expressed profound concern over the impacts of the armed conflict on the humanitarian situation in Sudan, saying that the crisis led to increasing waves of internal displacement and exodus into neighboring countries.

“The State of Kuwait reminds the warring parties of the need to respect the provisions of the international humanitarian law and human rights law, and empower to the international aid agencies to deliver assistance to the impoverished people,” he added.

UNHRC interactive dialogue is part of the 53rd regular session of the UNHRC which opened yesterday and will continue until July 14.

The opening session heard a report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) Volker Turk who regretted that “the reckless, senseless conflict in Sudan was taking place in a context of total impunity which had resulted in a human rights and humanitarian crisis.” That crisis is “unfolding at an alarming rate, on a devastating scale and with a complexity not seen before in the country,” he said, adding that since the conflict erupted on 15 April, Sudan had plunged into chaos.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Al-Budaiwi deplored Tuesday the Israeli occupation forces’ storming of Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank that resulted in several victims.

In a statement issued by the GCC Secretariat, Al-Budaiwi stressed the need for international community to take an urgent action to halt Israel’s continued attacks against Palestinian people.

Al-Budaiwi noted that these assaults are a “flagrant violation of international laws and norms”.

He also called on international community to provide required protection to Palestinian people and to back regional and international efforts for pushing the Middle East peace process, in order to reach a solution, which ensures peace, security and stability in the region, according to the statement.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

His Majesty King Abdullah and King Felipe VI of Spain on Tuesday co-chaired a new round of Aqaba Process meetings in Cordoba, organized in partnership with Spain. As the second High-Level Aqaba Process meeting to convene with a focus on West Africa and the Sahel, this round covered the latest developments in that region, and included an assessment of the threats of terrorism and extremism. Discussions covered current efforts to counter terrorism and means of enhancing coordination and networking among various initiatives in West Africa to fight terrorist groups on the ground, in addition to online by countering hate speech on social media. Speakers also reiterated the need to cooperate, exchange expertise, and expand the circle of partnerships to include more countries and relevant international organizations within the Aqaba Process. This round of meetings saw the participation of heads of state, officials, and representatives of security and military institutions from Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Morocco, Rwanda, Niger, Gabon, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Nigeria, Benin, Australia, Brazil, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, Portugal, the United States, Switzerland, Norway, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, as well as representatives of the African Union, the European Union, NATO, the United Nations, and the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism. On the sidelines of the meetings, King Abdullah met separately with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo, Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embao, and Commander of US African Command Gen. Michael E. Langley. A number of Aqaba Process meetings have been held outside Jordan over the past years in Indonesia, Albania, the Netherlands, Nigeria, the United States, the United Nations, and Singapore, in partnership with Jordan. Previous region-focused Aqaba Process rounds have included meetings on East Africa, South East Asia, Latin America, and the Balkans. The Aqaba Process initiative was launched by His Majesty King Abdullah II in 2015 to enhance coordination and exchange of expertise and information among regional and international stakeholders to counter terrorism and extremism.

Source: Jordan News Agency

British Ambassador to Jordan, Bridget Brind, visited Ma’an Governorate on Tuesday to see first-hand UK-funded projects supporting people in Ma’an, particularly youth, women and refugees, including through education. She also met with the Governor of Ma’an, Faisal Mufleh Al Smeiran, and Mayor of Ma’an, Yasin Fares Saleh. The UK last year provided £15m of financial aid through the Accelerating Access Initiative (AAI) multi-donor trust fund to support the Jordanian Government’s provision of education to 154,000 Syrian and other refugee boys and girls, including in Ma’an. The AAI programme works across 12 Jordanian governorates covering 42 directorates around the country, providing access to education for Syrian and non-Syrian refugee children in Jordan, including host and refugee children with disabilities. Through the AAI programme, the Ministry of Education, along with technical assistance from the UK, has established and supported 180 learning support teachers and 120 multi-disciplinary team members to reach around 3000 children with disabilities in around 60 pilot inclusive schools. In the Ma’an governorate, AAI supports some 40 schools and 2,040 Syrian refugee children, including those with disabilities, with essential education services. At a community centre in Ma’an, where the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has been delivering a set of Gender Based Violence (GBV) related prevention and response projects, the Ambassador had the opportunity to speak to adolescent girls and male members of the community who have been participating in DRC’s Engaging Men to Protect Women and Girls (EMAP) project, which is supported by the UK-funded Jordan Protection Programme. The Ambassador continued her visit to the Shobak Charitable Society for Women. The society empowers local women to build their skills and provides them with economic opportunities to create small-scale businesses. The Ambassador praised the ambition of women entrepreneurs and encouraged their involvement in the local economy, highlighting how their activity can empower and inspire other women to follow their example. Concluding the visit, the Ambassador said: “I was delighted to pay my first visit to Ma’an, in Southern Jordan, as part of my regular schedule of visits to all parts of Jordan. I met inspirational students and teachers at Ma’an Primary School, who demonstrated passion and enthusiasm in developing their skills within an inclusive environment. I am proud of the UKs strong support for schools across Jordan, including in Ma’an, through the Accelerating Access Initiative in partnership with the Ministry of Education. I also met ambitious women entrepreneurs and professionals delivering community services, showcasing the role of women and youth as active members of their society, helping deliver more opportunities and better outcomes for all. Visiting Ma’an on World Refugee Day, I welcome the hospitality of its people and underline the UK’s commitment to continue supporting Jordan’s generous hosting of refugees.” The UK has just pledged up to a further £150 million in humanitarian support for the Syria crisis in the region at the recent conference in Brussels on 15 June, bringing the total this year to almost £200 million’.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Minister of Government Communication Faisal Shboul, met Tuesday in Rabat with Arab media ministers and Arab media figures. Meetings, held on the sidelines of the 53rd ordinary session of the Council of Arab Media Ministers, taking place in the Moroccan capital, covered ways to enhance bilateral media cooperation. Meetings also discussed key issues on the Council’s agenda related to strengthening the Arab media role in serving joint Arab action. Shboul, who is also the government’s spokesperson, met with Palestinian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Medai, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, Lebanese Minister of Medai, Ziad Makari, Yemeni Minister of Media, Culture and Tourism, Muammar Al-Iryani, the Head of the Executive Office of the Council of Arab Media Ministers, Mujahid Abu Al-Hail, and Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League, Head of the Media and Communication Sector, Ambassador Ahmad Rashid Khattabi. Shboul highlighted Jordan’s vision regarding support areas of Arab media cooperation under the umbrella of the Arab League. He spoke about the Kingdom’s efforts to present concepts and strategies that serve Arab media work, especially Jordan’s development of the unified Arab strategy to interact with international media companies. He also mentioned Jordan’s unique experience in media and informational education field, in addition to numerous contributions to various issues of concern, foremost of which is the role of media in serving the Palestinian cause, the Arab media movement plan abroad, the map of sustainable development, and Arab media excellence . In a separate meeting, Saudi Minister of Media, Salman Al Dossary, received Tuesday Minister Shaboul, for a discussion on enhancing and expanding aspects of media cooperation between the two countries. The Saudi minister expressed his appreciation for Jordan’s distinguished contributions under the umbrella of the Council of Arab Ministers of Media, commending the draft strategy related to interacting with international media companies, which was presented by Jordan and mandated by Arab media ministers. The two ministers agreed on the importance of exchanging practical and media expertise between the two countries, enhancing training skills and examining successful experiences in media and press institutions in Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Also, on the sidelines of the council’s meeting, Shboul attended the international symposium on the role of media in supporting the civilizational identity of Jerusalem, during which attendees lauded the Jordanian role in serving the city of Jerusalem and the Hashemite custodianship over the Jerusalem Islamic and Christian holy sites.

Source: Jordan News Agency

A Palestinian youth was last night shot and killed by Israeli occupation forces during confrontations that broke out in the village of Husan, west of the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem, the Ministry of Health confirmed. It said Zakaria Mohammad al-Za’oul, 20, was brought to a hospital in Husan with critical head wounds from Israeli army gunfire and was pronounced dead shortly after. Rami Hamamra, head of the Husan village council, told WAFA that confrontations broke out between the village youths and Israeli forces at the eastern entrance to the village. The soldiers fired live bullets and gas and sound canisters at the youths during the confrontations, critically injuring al-Za’oul in the head, who was rushed to hospital and was later pronounced dead. Security sources added that two more youths were shot by Israeli gunfire, one in the stomach and the other in the neck, noting that one unidentified youth was also detained.

Source: Palestine News & Information Agency

The death toll of Palestinians killed as a result of the Israeli military assault on the northern West Bank city of Jenin yesterday has risen to six with the death today of 48-year-old Amjad Aref Abu Jaas, who succumbed to his wounds sustained in the assault, according to the Ministry of Health. It said Jaas was shot by a live bullet in the abdomen and was in critical condition until he was pronounced dead this morning. Five youths, including a 15-year-old child, were killed yesterday in the assault that lasted for more than 10 hours, and more than 90 were wounded, over 20 of them said to be in critical condition. Jaas’ son, Wasim, was also killed in an Israeli military assault on Jenin on January 25 during which nine Palestinians were killed. The Israeli military shot and killed or caused the death of 170 Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip since the start of the year, according to Health Ministry statistics.

Source: Palestine News & Information Agency

The Israeli army assault on the northern West Bank city of Jenin that resulted in the death yesterday of five people and a sixth this morning, and the injury of more than 90 others, over 20 of them said to be in critical condition, was highlighted on the front page of the three Palestinian Arabic dailies published today: al-Hayat al-Jadida, al-Ayyam, and al-Quds. Here are the main headlines of these dailies: Al-Hayat al-Jadida Five martyrs and 91 wounded, including 23 seriously, in a ground and air aggression The occupation court sentences the prisoner Alaa Qabha to two life terms The Cabinet instructs the ministries to provide what is necessary to support the people in Jenin A martyr in Husan, two injuries from Ya`bad, and the storming of the Al-Qibli prayer building in Al-Aqsa Mosque PM Shtayyeh: Israel is pushing the Palestinian Authority to collapse, and the leadership will not stand idly by Presidency: The massacres of the occupation aim to blow up the region, and the current situation cannot continue The Chinese Ambassador: Beijing will continue its unwavering support for the Palestinian people and their just cause International concern about Israel’s decision to accelerate settlement construction On World Refugee Day: The rights of the Palestinian refugee are marginalized Al-Ayyam: Five martyrs during a massive invasion of Jenin by the occupation army using Apache helicopter The occupation army was caught by surprise by the ambush and an explosive device weighing 40 kilograms Bethlehem: One martyr and two injured by the occupation bullets in Husan The occupation forces open fire at a vehicle west of Jenin, injuring two young men, one of whom was Jordanian Smotrich calls for a wide-scale assault: We will continue with the settlements The occupation cancels a settlers’ incursion into Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus The government decides to provide assistance to Jenin Suppression of a march at the northern entrance of al-Bireh; demolition and bulldozing in the village of Qalandia Shtayyeh and al-Sheikh call on US official Barbara Leaf to put pressure on Israel Peace Now: The Israeli government is advancing the construction of 4,800 new settlement units The occupation stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque at night and evacuated it from worshipers and Waqf employees Al-Quds: Five martyrs and dozens of wounded in the Israeli aggression on Jenin One martyr and injuries in Husan Police storm Al-Aqsa Mosque and expel the worshippers and Waqf employees Injuries, demolitions, notifications of demolition, and attacks by settlers The government orders the provision of what is necessary to support the people in Jenin The Chinese ambassador to al-Quds: The meeting between Presidents Abbas and Ping aims to reach a strategic partnership between the two countries Shtayyeh: International silence and double standards encourage the occupation to kill

Source: Palestine News & Information Agency