Kuwait Minister: We are not Dissatisfied with the Representation Reduction

Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah Al Mubarak, the minister of state for cabinet affairs and acting information minister.(October 24, 2017. KUNA)
Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah Al Mubarak, the minister of state for cabinet affairs and acting information minister.(October 24, 2017. KUNA)
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Kuwait Minister: We are not Dissatisfied with the Representation Reduction

Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah Al Mubarak, the minister of state for cabinet affairs and acting information minister.(October 24, 2017. KUNA)
Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah Al Mubarak, the minister of state for cabinet affairs and acting information minister.(October 24, 2017. KUNA)

Kuwait's Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Acting Minister Information Sheikh Mohammad al-Abdullah al-Sabah said Wednesday that his country is not dissatisfied with the reduction of the level of representation of Gulf delegations to the GCC Kuwait summit.

Sheikh Mohammad said Kuwait has had the honor of welcoming the representatives of any leader of a GCC member country, adding: "we are dealing with each delegate as the representative of his country's leadership and people."

Speaking at a meeting with the media covering the 38th GCC summit that concluded on Tuesday, the minister said that none of the GCC countries imposed preconditions to participate in the summit, especially with regard to the current crisis with Qatar.

When asked by Asharq Al-Awsat about the crisis and Kuwait's mediation, Sheikh Mohammad said the mediation derives its credibility from the impartiality of the mediator, adding: "our role as mediator requires us to be neutral in this crisis." He indicated that Kuwait's role is very important and vital and it will continue its efforts to reach a solution.

With regard to the Yemen crisis, the Kuwaiti minister said all GCC delegations agreed in the closed session on the importance of maintaining stability and unity of Yemen, adding that they all support efforts of political solution to this crisis.

During the meeting, the minister also addressed foreign challenges, including Iran's interventions in the region, calling on Iran to abide by international law and good-neighborliness with its Gulf region.

"We are keen to avoid any issue that could create a disagreement between GCC states, but the issue of foreign interventions is not a controversial issue," he concluded.



French President to Visit Saudi Arabia in December

France's President Emmanuel Macron holds the 9th edition of the Dictionnaire de l'Academie Francaise (Dictionary of the French Academy), which is the official dictionary of the French language during the solemn session of presentation, in Paris on November 14, 2024. (AFP)
France's President Emmanuel Macron holds the 9th edition of the Dictionnaire de l'Academie Francaise (Dictionary of the French Academy), which is the official dictionary of the French language during the solemn session of presentation, in Paris on November 14, 2024. (AFP)
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French President to Visit Saudi Arabia in December

France's President Emmanuel Macron holds the 9th edition of the Dictionnaire de l'Academie Francaise (Dictionary of the French Academy), which is the official dictionary of the French language during the solemn session of presentation, in Paris on November 14, 2024. (AFP)
France's President Emmanuel Macron holds the 9th edition of the Dictionnaire de l'Academie Francaise (Dictionary of the French Academy), which is the official dictionary of the French language during the solemn session of presentation, in Paris on November 14, 2024. (AFP)

The Elysee Palace announced on Friday that French President Emmanuel Macron will carry out a state visit to Saudi Arabia in early December at the invitation of Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

The visit, between December 2 and 4, will be an opportunity for both sides to bolster the partnership between Saudi Arabia and France, said the Elysee.

Crown Prince Mohammed and Macron held telephone talks on Thursday to discuss regional developments and efforts to restore security and stability.

They also discussed bilateral affairs and cooperation in several fields, said official sources.

A Saudi official delegation, including the ministers of foreign affairs, culture and investment, is currently in Paris to participate in the meeting of the joint Saudi-French committee to develop the AlUla province.

Advisor to the French President for the Middle East and North Africa Anne-Claire Legendre was in Riyadh this month for talks on the Middle East and bilateral relations.

Crown Prince Mohammed had visited France in June 2023 to bolster bilateral ties and to hold talks on “challenges to regional instability,” as well as international affairs, such as the war on Ukraine and its impact on the world.

Macron, for his part, has visited Saudi Arabia in 2017, 2018 and 2021.

French sources hailed the relations between France and the Kingdom, underscoring the latter’s role on regional, Arab and international levels, highlighting Riyadh's hosting this week of the Arab-Islamic summit.

They said Israel’s war on Gaza and Lebanon, regional tensions, and the security of the Gulf will be discussed by Crown Prince Mohammed and Macron.