The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani attending the third Arab-Afrcan Summit in Kuwait yesterday.
H H Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani accompanied the Emir.
Kuwait: The Qatari Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and his delegation, along with leaders of Arab and African countries, attended the opening session of the 3rd Arab-Africa Summit under the theme ‘Partners in Development and Investment’ at the Liberation Hall in the Bayan Palace in Kuwait yesterday.
In his opening speech at the two-day conference, the Emir of Kuwait, H H Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, also President of the conference, said Kuwait would extend $1bn in soft loans to African countries over the next five years, reflecting “our keenness” to ensure economic investment is key to genuine partnership between the African and Arab regions. He said the proper utilisation of “our natural resources” would contribute to sustainable development and economic integration by making good use of skilled manpower to achieve food security despite unstable global economic.
He stressed that food security could be achieved through collaboration between the African and Arab regions. Sheikh Sabah referred to the tragic situation in Syria, “where the machine of death is killing people, as casualties rise daily, and destruction of all aspects of life multiplies.
“Appalling statistics and reports from specialised agencies confirm that casualties have exceeded 100,000 of our brothers in Syria, and millions of people have been displaced internally and externally, placing huge burdens on neighbouring countries and agencies concerned.”
He called on the UN Security Council to live up to its responsibilities and end bloodshed in Syria, appealing to all parties to the Geneva II conference to work “honestly and sincerely” to reach a political solution.
Sheikh Sabah said regional stability would not be achieved with Israel’s “continuous intransigence and refusal to implement resolutions of international legitimacy, and its insistence on expanding settlements. “We call upon the international community, in particular the Security Council and the Quartet, to put pressure on Israel to implement resolutions, and to establish an independent, viable Palestinian state in accordance with resolutions and the Arab peace initiative,” he said.
The session was also attended by Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, Personal Representative of the Emir of Kuwait, heads of African and Arab civil society organisations and top officials.
On the sidelines of the summit, the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani held separate talks with H M King Abdullah bin Al Hussein of Jordan, President Omar Hassan Ahmed Al Bashir of Sudan, President Dr Mohamed Al Mancef Al Marzouqi of Tunisia, President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi of Yemen, Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Deputy Supreme Commander of Bahrain’s Defence Force and First Deputy Prime Minister, and Assad bin Tariq bin Taymour Al Said, representative of H M Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman.
Talks covered bilateral relations and the summit agenda. The Emir’s Personal Representative H H Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and other officials attended the meetings. The Emir left Kuwait in the afternoon. The Emir sent a cable to Sheikh Sabah, expressing his gratitude for the warm welcome and hospitality accorded to him and his delegation.
The GCC Secretary-General, Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, said the summit gave a new dimension to ties between both regions to work towards a “more hopeful and bright future,” adding their cultural and social proximity constituted a cornerstone of solid partnership that benefited peoples of both regions.QNA
