Kuwait Hails ‘Historic Agreement’ in Shared Neutral Zone with Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait signed an agreement to resume pumping at two major oilfields in a shared neutral zone. (Reuters)
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait signed an agreement to resume pumping at two major oilfields in a shared neutral zone. (Reuters)
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Kuwait Hails ‘Historic Agreement’ in Shared Neutral Zone with Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait signed an agreement to resume pumping at two major oilfields in a shared neutral zone. (Reuters)
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait signed an agreement to resume pumping at two major oilfields in a shared neutral zone. (Reuters)

The Kuwaiti cabinet has affirmed as “historic” the deal struck with Saudi Arabia to allow production to resume at two oilfields in their shared neutral zone.

Last Tuesday, the two countries signed an agreement to resume pumping at two major oilfields in a shared neutral zone following five years of halting production.

After the cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Interior Minister Anas Khaled Nasser al-Saleh announced that these agreements embody the distinctive and special fraternal ties between the two countries, as well as their leadership and peoples' deep belief in their shared destiny.

Saleh added that the cabinet expressed admiration of the great level of cooperation, understanding and harmony among political, legal and technical negotiating teams from both sides. It also hailed their special efforts that helped materialize the vision of the two countries' leaderships.

Assistant Foreign Minister for Legal Affairs and the deals' negotiating committee Deputy Director Ambassador Ghanim Al-Ghanim said that the neutral zone was left undivided when the two countries marked their border at the Uqair Convention in 1922.

This remained the case until the 1965 deal that split the area into demarcated northern Kuwaiti and southern Saudi portions but the natural resources remained shared between both, he added.

He added that the instructions were clear, there is no loss or gain and if an agreement was reached then both parties are winners.



Kuwait Includes 8 Lebanese Hospitals on 'Terror' List

Kuwait indicated that it had listed eight hospitals in Lebanon as part of regulations related to "combating terrorism.” KUNA
Kuwait indicated that it had listed eight hospitals in Lebanon as part of regulations related to "combating terrorism.” KUNA
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Kuwait Includes 8 Lebanese Hospitals on 'Terror' List

Kuwait indicated that it had listed eight hospitals in Lebanon as part of regulations related to "combating terrorism.” KUNA
Kuwait indicated that it had listed eight hospitals in Lebanon as part of regulations related to "combating terrorism.” KUNA

Kuwait's foreign ministry issued on Sunday a circular indicating that it had listed eight hospitals in Lebanon as part of regulations related to "combating terrorism.”

Lebanon's health ministry expressed surprise and said it would seek clarification.

It said it received the Kuwaiti statement "with great surprise", adding it had not been provided with "any information or notification from any Kuwaiti entity about this matter.”

"The hospitals mentioned in the statement are registered with the syndicate of private hospitals in Lebanon and carry out their role in providing treatment and health services to all Lebanese without exception," the ministry statement said.

It called the facilities "an essential part of the Lebanese health system,” and said it would contact the relevant authorities to request clarification and "protect Lebanon's health system.”

It noted that "Kuwait has numerous joint projects with the ministry... and has been among the most prominent countries that have stood by the health system during the successive crises that Lebanon has faced.”

The latest move was "unprecedented and inconsistent" with the Gulf country's usual approach, it added.


Saudi and Guatemalan FMs Discuss Bilateral Ties

The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs met on Sunday with his Guatemalan counterpart in Riyadh. SPA
The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs met on Sunday with his Guatemalan counterpart in Riyadh. SPA
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Saudi and Guatemalan FMs Discuss Bilateral Ties

The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs met on Sunday with his Guatemalan counterpart in Riyadh. SPA
The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs met on Sunday with his Guatemalan counterpart in Riyadh. SPA

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met on Sunday with his Guatemalan counterpart Carlos Ramiro Martínez in Riyadh.

During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations and discussed developments of mutual interest.


Faisal bin Farhan, Barrack Discuss Developments in Syria

The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince met on Sunday with the US Special Envoy for Syria in Riyadh.(SPA)
The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince met on Sunday with the US Special Envoy for Syria in Riyadh.(SPA)
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Faisal bin Farhan, Barrack Discuss Developments in Syria

The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince met on Sunday with the US Special Envoy for Syria in Riyadh.(SPA)
The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince met on Sunday with the US Special Envoy for Syria in Riyadh.(SPA)

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met on Sunday with US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack in Riyadh.

During the meeting, they reviewed developments in Syria.