Egyptian, Kuwaiti Efforts to Contain 'Unofficial Feuds'

Nurses await to admit expatriates in a makeshift coronavirus testing center at the Mishref Fair Grounds in Kuwait city, Kuwait. Reuters file photo
Nurses await to admit expatriates in a makeshift coronavirus testing center at the Mishref Fair Grounds in Kuwait city, Kuwait. Reuters file photo
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Egyptian, Kuwaiti Efforts to Contain 'Unofficial Feuds'

Nurses await to admit expatriates in a makeshift coronavirus testing center at the Mishref Fair Grounds in Kuwait city, Kuwait. Reuters file photo
Nurses await to admit expatriates in a makeshift coronavirus testing center at the Mishref Fair Grounds in Kuwait city, Kuwait. Reuters file photo

Egypt and Kuwait have sought to contain "unofficial" disputes among a number of their citizens, which included an incitement campaign against Egyptian expats in Kuwait accused of being infected with the coronavirus.

Both countries discussed the issue, stressing the importance of the historic ties between them.

In Egypt, a number of public figures, artists, and university professors launched an initiative rejecting discord and warning against "deliberate attempts" to create strife between the two countries.

Egyptian Minister of Culture Inas Abdel Dayem also signed the initiative which reiterated the importance and strength of Egyptian-Kuwaiti relations historically, politically, and culturally.

The signatories explained that two or three individuals who started the altercations don’t represent the Egyptian people.

Some of them belong to a political movement rejected by Egyptians, said the signatories.

They also praised a statement issued by a large group of Kuwaiti artists and public figures condemning attempts to cause hostility between the peoples of both countries.

Last week, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Ahmad Nasser telephoned his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shukri, discussing the brotherly and historic relations between Kuwait and Egypt.

The two ministers expressed satisfaction with the level of ties between the two states, and rejected all bids intended to strain these bonds.

The talks touched on precautionary measures in the two countries against the novel coronavirus.

As part of efforts to contain the crisis, the Kuwaiti prosecution interrogated Kuwaiti writer Mubarak al-Bugaily over his insulting comments on Egypt.

Bugaily posted a series of tweets against Egypt, denouncing the way the country is dealing with the coronavirus crisis, and undermining the Egyptian workers in Kuwait.

Sources stated that Kuwait intends to deport Egyptian workers whose residencies have expired, but the Egyptian authorities preferred they stay put until the crisis is over, while respecting the Kuwaiti authorities’ instructions on precautionary measures.

Meanwhile, member of Egypt's parliamentary foreign affairs committee MP Mohammed al-Orabi lauded the relations between Cairo and Kuwait, saying they can’t be shaken by a group that constantly attacks Egypt.

Orabi told Asharq Al-Awsat that he received several calls from Kuwaiti parliamentarians and former ministers affirming that such statements do not represent Kuwait or its people.

Egyptian MP and Deputy Speaker of the Arab Parliament Saad al-Gammal announced that a video conferencing session of the Arab Parliament will be held next week.

Gammal praised the Emir of Kuwait and the historic ties between the two counties, asserting that dialogue will prevail. He indicated that those attacking Egyptians neither represent their country nor the Emir.



Saudi Arabia Offers Condolences to Azerbaijan after Plane Crash

A handout photo made available by the press service of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of Kazakhstan shows emergency specialists working at the crash site of a passenger plane near Aktau, Kazakhstan, 25 December 2024. (EPA/Kazakhstan Emergencies Ministry handout)
A handout photo made available by the press service of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of Kazakhstan shows emergency specialists working at the crash site of a passenger plane near Aktau, Kazakhstan, 25 December 2024. (EPA/Kazakhstan Emergencies Ministry handout)
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Saudi Arabia Offers Condolences to Azerbaijan after Plane Crash

A handout photo made available by the press service of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of Kazakhstan shows emergency specialists working at the crash site of a passenger plane near Aktau, Kazakhstan, 25 December 2024. (EPA/Kazakhstan Emergencies Ministry handout)
A handout photo made available by the press service of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of Kazakhstan shows emergency specialists working at the crash site of a passenger plane near Aktau, Kazakhstan, 25 December 2024. (EPA/Kazakhstan Emergencies Ministry handout)

Saudi Arabia offered on Wednesday its condolences to Azerbaijan following the plane crash in Kazakhstan.

A Foreign Ministry statement said the Kingdom expressed its condolences to the families of the deceased and to the government and people of Azerbaijan. It wished the injured a speedy recovery.

The Muslim World League (MWL) also extended its condolences to the government and people of Azerbaijan following the crash.

An Embraer passenger jet flying from Azerbaijan to Russia crashed near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, killing 38 people while 29 survivors received hospital treatment, Kazakh authorities said.

Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243 had flown hundreds of miles off its scheduled route to crash on the opposite shore of the Caspian Sea, after what Russia's aviation watchdog said was an emergency that may have been caused by a bird strike. But an aviation expert suggested that cause seemed unlikely.

Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev said according to information he had received, the plane changed course due to poor weather, but he added the cause of the crash was unknown and must be fully investigated.