Kuwait City: Palestine's full membership in the UN is a matter of utmost importance to the future of Palestinians and their right for an independent state within the 1967 borders, said Kuwait Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya. Delivering a speech to the 163rd meeting of the Arab League Foreign Ministers in Cairo, Al-Yahya stated that the future Palestinian state, with east Jerusalem as its capital, is a non-negotiable issue and a major aspiration for Palestinians and the Arab world.
According to Kuwait News Agency, this year began with a "beam of hope" as the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip-negotiated by the US, Qatar, and Egypt-brought expectations for the end of the conflict. However, the Israeli occupation violated agreements and international laws, continuing its campaign against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, said the Kuwaiti minister. He commended the outcomes of the urgent Arab Summit held on March 4 in Cairo, which resulted in a plan to reconstruct Gaza as soon as the Israeli occupation campaign ends through international peace efforts.
The Foreign Minister expressed support for the Cairo international summit focused on the recovery and reconstruction of Gaza, and support for UNRWA in its efforts in Gaza and the West Bank despite Israeli harassment. He welcomed the UNGA's resolution to refer the ban on UNRWA to the International Court of Justice for a verdict on the legality of halting the UN entity's efforts.
Al-Yahya expressed disdain for the Israeli occupation's attempts to alter the legal status and history of Jerusalem. Regarding Syria, he affirmed that developments in the country were pivotal for the Syrian people, reflecting Kuwait's support for Syrians over the past 14 years. Kuwait had organized and co-organized donor conferences for Syria, showing solidarity with the Syrian people in determining their destiny.
Minister Al-Yahya reiterated Kuwait's support for the national Syrian dialogue conference and the formation of a new transitional Syrian government, hoping these steps would help build a modern Syrian state. He also expressed solidarity with Lebanon, emphasizing Kuwait's stance on maintaining Lebanon's unity and stability, and the importance of implementing UNSC resolution 1701 and halting Israeli military aggression.
The Kuwaiti official stressed Kuwait's interest in Sudan's developments, urging the maintenance of the ceasefire, enabling humanitarian aid delivery, and protecting civilians per international resolutions. On Yemen, Al-Yahya emphasized Kuwait's commitment to Yemen's unity and stability through a comprehensive political solution based on the GCC initiative, national dialogue outcomes, and UNSC resolution 2216.
Al-Yahya also addressed the situation in Libya, supporting unity and stability, and welcomed the Somalia-Ethiopia agreement in Ankara for technical border negotiations. He condemned the assassination attempt against Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, affirming Kuwait's solidarity with Somalia in its fight against terrorism.
Minister Al-Yahya renewed calls for restraint in Red Sea maritime routes, emphasizing respect for international laws and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. He commended Oman for its effort to release the "Galaxy Leader" ship crew detained off Yemen's coast and praised Oman's mediation in US-Iran talks on Iran's nuclear file, contributing to regional stability and peace.