Kuwait Rejects European Criticism: Don’t Interfere in Our Internal Affairs

Kuwait Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (KUNA)
Kuwait Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (KUNA)
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Kuwait Rejects European Criticism: Don’t Interfere in Our Internal Affairs

Kuwait Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (KUNA)
Kuwait Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (KUNA)

Kuwait criticized what it labeled as interference in its internal affairs, and the Kuwaiti foreign minister called on EU countries to respect his country's laws and sovereignty, rejecting European disapproval regarding the recent implementation of the death penalty against seven convicts.

Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah expressed wishes that European countries would not “politicize” waiving Kuwait from the Schengen visa system, because the overall purpose of the waiver is to improve relations between the two sides.

On Thursday, the European Parliament postponed until further notice voting on applications to exempt citizens of Kuwait and Qatar from the Schengen visa requirement, which was scheduled in Brussels Thursday. The European Parliament Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs did not disclose the reason behind the postponement.

“It is regrettable that despite raising this yesterday and having received assurances to the contrary, Kuwait went ahead with 7 executions today,” Margaritis Schinas, European Commission vice president for promoting the European way of life, said in a statement on Twitter.

Schinas said the European Union strongly opposes the death penalty and that the EU’s diplomatic service has summoned Kuwait’s ambassador to the EU in Brussels. The executions would be raised in discussions on the Commission’s proposal to put Kuwait on the visa free list, Schinas added.

Kuwait’s Sheikh Salem, in remarks carried by the state news agency KUNA on Thursday, rejected any interference “from anyone and especially our friends” in Kuwait’s internal affairs or judicial process.
“Kuwait is a democratic state and we are proud of it, proud of its system and the separation of powers in the country. Thus, we as a government or individuals cannot interfere with the work of the judicial branch from any outside party,” the foreign minister said.

Sheikh Salem noted that decisions made by the judicial apparatus are independent without any interference either internally or from abroad.



Saudi Crown Prince: We Stand by Gaza and Lebanon, Reject Attacks on Iran

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince: We Stand by Gaza and Lebanon, Reject Attacks on Iran

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, stressed on Monday the Kingdom’s categorical rejection of Israel’s attacks on Gaza.

He made his remarks while opening the extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh.

Crown Prince Mohammed expressed solidarity with Lebanon and declared his rejection of attempts to undermine the role of the Palestinian Authority and efforts to hinder the role of humanitarian agencies in Gaza.

He condemned attempts to thwart the work of UNRWA in the Palestinian territories, while underscoring the need for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Crown Prince Mohammed also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s launch of an international coalition for supporting the two-state solution to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

He also announced his rejection of attacks on Iranian territories.

Arab and Islamic leaders arrived in Riyadh on Monday to attend the summit.

Speaking at the opening of the event, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi declared: “We condemn the systematic killing of Palestinians in Gaza and we reject their displacement.”

“We must work together to implement the two-state solution,” he urged, while voicing commitment to just and fair peace.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II said: “We must focus our efforts immediately on ending the Israeli siege on Gaza and ending the humanitarian catastrophe.”

“These wars must stop so that we can prevent the region from slipping into a wide-scale conflict,” he added.

“The region is enduring a tragedy that demands immediate action,” he stressed.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed his gratitude to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed for supporting the drive for countries to recognize a Palestinian state, noting that it was the foundation for achieving stability and peace.

He demanded the implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 2735 that would stop the Israeli assault and allow the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza

He also called on the international community to impose sanctions on Israel, accusing it of committing “genocide against the Palestinian people for over a year.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for “isolating Israel on the international stage should it fail to end its attacks on Gaza and Lebanon.”

He also called for “imposing an arms and trade embargo against it.”

The solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict lies in the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, he stressed.

Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said his country is “going through an unprecedented historic and fateful crisis.”

“Israel cannot continue with its assault on Lebanon and its people,” he demanded, saying over 3,000 people have been killed and the human losses are devastating.

Mikati urged the gatherers to continue on sending aid to Lebanon.

On the regional level, he said the greatest challenge lies in the Palestinian cause and the suffering of the Palestinian people, echoing demands for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.