Pompeo lauds His Highness Amir efforts for regional stability

Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) , Thu, Mar 21, 2019

KUWAIT, March 21 (KUNA) -- Visiting US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo hailed Thursday His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's efforts in preserving the region's stability, particularly resolving the GCC dispute.

His Highness the Amir's efforts to facilitate a resolution of the Gulf dispute are "greatly appreciated", Pompeo told KUNA and Kuwait Television on the sidelines of his maiden visit to Kuwait since assuming his post in April 2018.

He also praised His Highness' keenness to maintain the region's stability and prosperity, describing Kuwait and the Kuwaiti people as "most generous" when it comes to backing international humanitarian actions, especially in Yemen and Syria.

Furthermore, Pompeo noted his country and Kuwait share a strategic partnership and enjoy a long-history of friendship, cooperation, and joint interests.

Meanwhile, the Secretary of State indicated his visit is part of his participation at the third US-Kuwait strategic dialogue to discuss a number of significant subjects such as the growing bilateral cooperation in defense, anti-terrorism, and cybersecurity, in addition to boosting trade and investment ties.

The event resulted in signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries in encouraging investment in entrepreneurship and small and medium-sized projects, said Pompeo.

Moreover, the MoU also included an English language-learning program as part of the cultural, educational, and academic exchange between Kuwait and US, he added.

Pompeo also valued Kuwait's efforts to boost partnership with Washington in the field of cybersecurity, adding it has become an urgent necessity to face regional and international challenges.

For his part, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah said that eight documents, including MoUs and agreements, have been signed during the third US-Kuwait strategic dialogue, bringing them up to 18 in total since the event's launch in 2016.

Holding such a significant event regularly reflects the Kuwaiti-US leaderships' keenness in strengthening their historic and bilateral relationship, as well as the positive outcomes of His Highness the Amir's two visits to the US in 2017 and 2018, said the Kuwaiti top official. (end) aa.tma.ma