Kuwait’s Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Shaikh Salman Sabah Al Salem Al Humoud Al Sabah said his visit to Palestine attests Kuwait's continuous support of the Palestinian cause, regardless of the circumstances that may arise.

Arriving at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah as he was heading a Kuwaiti delegation to attend the opening of the 10th Palestinian International Book Fair , the minister told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that the Palestinian cause “has always been a primary one in our collective conscience for which we have assiduously worked toward realizing the rights of the Palestinian people." 

“We have come to let the Palestinian people know that we stand by them and hope that they surmount the difficulties in their lives,” he said as he voiced the appreciation by the Kuwaiti people and leadership of the invitation extended by the Palestinian leadership to Kuwait to attend the book fair as a guest of honor and as the capital of Islamic culture for 2016.

"We are happy and proud to take part in the book fair along with our Palestinian friends and affirm the continuation of Kuwaiti-Palestinian relations under all circumstances, as the two peoples harbor love and respect for each other," the minister said, quoted by KUNA.

Regarding his meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Amman, the Kuwaiti minister said he discussed with the president important Palestinian issues including dedicating all resources to establishing a Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital city.

Shaikh Salman noted that he would be meeting with a number of Palestinian officials to discuss with them issues of bilateral concern, among them those dealing with youth, culture, and media. He stressed that Kuwait was open to cooperation with Palestinians in all fields of interest.

Referring to the city of Al Quds (Jeruslaem), he said: "Undoubtedly, Al Quds bears a significant Arab, Islamic, and worldwide cachet and is part of our collective Arab conscience. We never cease to support it in all ways and means and look forward to having east Al-Quds or east Jerusalem as the capital city of a Palestinian state." 

He said his visit, along with the delegation accompanying him, to the city of Al Quds and praying in Al Aqsa Mosque left an indelible impression on him and on those with him, stressing his aspiration that the rights of the Palestinians be restored and that the city of Al Quds become a city for "all people." 

Secretary-General of the Palestinian Presidency Al Tayeb Abdulrahim told KUNA that visits such as the one conducted by the Kuwaiti minister and the delegation with him mean that "communication between us Palestinians and Arab officials is ongoing and continuous and that the Palestinian cause remains a rallying cry for all Arabs." He emphasized that Kuwaiti-Palestinian relations go back numerous decades and that Kuwait has a special place in the hearts of the Palestinian people.

He thanked the Kuwaiti leadership and people for their formidable support of the Palestinian cause and people over the years.
Source: BNA