Ashton praises Kuwait''s support for Syrian people

European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton praised Monday Kuwait's support of the Syrian people, as well as hosting the 2nd donors conference for Syria on Wednesday. Ashton, at a joint news conference with First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, said relations between the EU and Kuwait were "historic and old." She said the EU was committed to the stability and territorial safety of Kuwait. Ashton said her visit to Kuwait was an opportunity to exchange views over a host of matters as well as how to develop bilateral relations, specially that Kuwait played a leading role in the region. Kuwait's presidency of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), she added, was an "important opportunity of cooperation" between the two sides at the economic and political levels. She said she briefed the Kuwaiti side over the agreement reached between the P5+1 group and Iran, and that the Western countries sought to continue negotiations with Tehran in future. Ashton said she was planning to visit Iran in the coming weeks. She said the implementation of the Iranian nuclear agreement would be monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). She hoped the agreement, which was concluded in Geneva last November, would pave way for a comprehensive accord in near future. Asked about waiving the Schengen visa of Kuwaiti citizens, Ashton said the government of Kuwait would be submitting some proposals over this step "and we are looking forward to receiving these proposals to study them." She said the parliament of Kuwait was an integral part of the daily life of the Kuwaiti people. On the 2nd donors conference for the Syrian people, Ashton said the EU was ready to play a bigger role to support the Syrian people who were living in severe cold. She hoped the Geneva II conference, due in Switzerland on January 22, would contribute to a peaceful end to the conflict in Syria, which has killed more than 100,000 people. The senior EU official, meanwhile, called for the implementation of the roadmap in Egypt in order to honor the aspirations of the Egyptian people. For his part, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled said Ashton's visit came "in the midst of critical regional and international circumstances," and it was an opportunity to exchange views over many issues of mutual interest. He said they have discussed the Middle East peace process and the best ways to push forward the US-brokered negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians. Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled commended the EU's decision to ban all member countries from dealing with or funding Israeli institutions working in occupied Palestinian territories. Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled said he and Ashton also discussed the Syrian crisis and preparations for the Geneva II and the importance of participation of all parties concerned in order to end the bloodshed. He said he emphasized on His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's keenness on the success of the 2nd donors conference in order to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people.. The talks, he added, also touched upon the Iranian nuclear agreement and expanding GCC-EU partnership where many Gulf sovereign funds were investing in vital economic sectors in the European countries, "thus playing a vital role in helping the European economies during the international economic turmoil which make our countries a major and international partner." Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled said he expressed Kuwait's desire to waive the Schengen visa from its citizens. "There has been a special committee that coordinates with state authorities to prepare a file that includes all technical requirements ..., which enable Kuwait submit the waiver request and guarantee the approval." Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled participated in a meeting between Arab foreign ministers and US Secretary of State John Kerry in Paris yesterday. He thanked the US for its deep involvement in the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations. "We will be happy to find a solution for this problem," he said, but Israel was placing many obstacles in the path for peace like the building of settlements on occupied territories. "We have to create the atmospheres to help the Americans reach an agreement between the two sides," said Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled. He thanked the EU for its political and humanitarian role vis-a-vis the Syrian crisis. Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled said the EU would actively participate in the 2nd donors conference and the Geneva II meeting. The Kuwaiti senior official, meanwhile, said the GCC countries and their European friends were keen on helping the Egyptian people restore security and stability of their country