Kuwaiti diplomat urges world to continue anti-IS efforts

KUNA
Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) , Fri, Jul 14, 2017

The international community should keep its zeal and power in fighting the so-called Islamic State (IS), a senior Kuwaiti diplomat underlined here Thursday.

Speaking to KUNA on the sidelines of the conference of the Global Coalition to Counter the so-called Islamic State (IS), Assistant Foreign Minister for Development and International Cooperation Nasser Al-Subieh said the coalition's members were monitoring military operations in the Iraqi city of Mosul and the major victory achieved by the Iraqi army there.

The coalition's members are acting against the IS in Syria, mainly Al-Raqqa city, due to the group's intensive and organized presence there, he said, adding that the conference held here focuses on stopping the finance of the group and preventing foreign fighters from joining it.

The focus now is how to thwart the movement of IS militants from conflict-hit areas to other places, the Kuwaiti diplomat pointed out.

There are wide-scale discussions by the members about rehabilitation programs for IS members inside their own societies following fair trials, Al-Subieh added.
In this context, he noted His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's initiative to host a donor conference in Kuwait to support the Iraqi government.

He hoped that world donors would respond to relevant calls by offering necessary finance and donations to Iraq's reconstruction efforts.
On his part, Spokesman for the US State Department Christiane James said the US appreciates and values its relations with the State of Kuwait and welcomes its key role in fighting the IS.

Speaking to KUNA, he said Washington would work with all partners in order to eliminate the scourge of terrorism worldwide.

He stressed that post-IS stage is very important, and joint international efforts should be exerted in order to restore stability.

The Global anti-IS Coalition was formed in 2015 after IS controlled large areas in Iraq and Syria, prompting some 70 countries to take action against the terror organization. There are 12 Arab members of the coalition.