Kuwait's diplomatic missions mark anniversaries

Kuwait's diplomatic missions around the world celebrated the country's 51st Independence Day, the 21st Liberation Day, and the sixth anniversary of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's assumption of office. In Baku, Ambassador to the Republic of Azerbaijan Ghassan Yusuf Al-Zawawi hosted a reception that gathered dozens of Azeri political, economic and literary celebrities as well as public figures and ambassadors based in Baku. Azeri Education Minister Misir Mardanov lauded, in an address to the ceremony, the bilateral ties which date back to long decades before October 10, 1994, when the two countries established diplomatic relations. On his part, Ambassador Al-Zawawi expressed, in statements to KUNA, Kuwait's desire to develop the friendly relations in all field. In Frankfurt, Germany, Kuwait Consul General Asaad Abdulaziz Al-Bahar hosted a reception that brought together a large number of officials of the state of Hesse, senior politicians economists, and business and media people. Speaker of Frankfurt Assembly (parliament), chairman of the Arab-German chamber of commerce and industry, chairman of the German stock exchange, and head of the foreign diplomatic missions based in the city also attended the celebration. In Moscow, Kuwait Ambassador to the Russian Federation Nasser Al-Muzayyen hosted a celebration with Russian Presidential Envoy to the Middle East and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov attending along with several senior politicians, diplomats and public figures. Speaking to KUNA on the sidelines of the reception, Bogdanov lauded the strong ties between Kuwait and Russia in all areas. The State of Kuwait was the first Gulf country establishing diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation on December 28, 1991, when it recognized as the successor of the Soviet Union, he recalled. In Budapest, Kuwait Ambassador to Hungary Abdulhameed Al-Failakawi hosted a reception that gathered a large number of senior officials including chief of staff of the Hungarian presidential office and heads of Arab and foreign diplomatic missions. Al-Failakawi hailed the steady strengthening of the bilateral ties in all domains since the two countries established the diplomatic relations five years ago. He spoke highly of Hungary's supportive stances to Kuwait including its decision to join the international alliance for the liberation of Kuwait from the Iraqi invasion in 1991. In Manila, Kuwait Ambassador to Philippines Waleed Ahmad Al-Kandari hosted a celebration that was attended by Pilipino Foreign Minister Albert F. del Rosario and several senior politicians and public celebrities. Lauding the close bilateral ties, Al-Kandari said Kuwait spares no effort in backing up the quest for economic and social development in the Philippines and other countries of the southeast Asia region. "Over the last half a century Kuwait fund for Arab Fund for Economic Development (KFAED) has been a key contributor to the development projects in region and beyond," he added. In Valletta, Kuwait Ambassador to Malta Faisal Suleiman Al-Musaileem opened the exhibition of Kuwaiti students in the Mediterranean island country as part of the national celebrations. The exhibition, being held at Malta University campus, gathered large numbers of students and academics from both countries including vice chancellor of the university. In Vienna, Kuwait Ambassador to Austria Mohammad Saad Al-Sallal hosted a grand reception at the embassy where a large number of Austrian senior government officials and Arab delegates to the UN Office in Vienna as well as heads of international organizations and UN agencies gathered. Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Yukiya Amano addressed the ceremony and congratulated HH the Amir on this occasion. Among the other organizations, represented at the reception, were the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) as well as the Austrian Foreign Ministry's Middle East Department. In Yerevan, Kuwait Ambassador to the Republic of Armenia Bassam Mohammad Al-Qabandi hosted a celebration at the embassy where several Armenian senior officials as well as Arab ambassadors gathered. The Armenian government was represented by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Territorial Administration Armen Gevorgian and Minister of Culture and Youth Hasmik Poghosian. This was the first such celebration held by Kuwait embassy which opened in December, 2011. In Warsaw, Kuwait Ambassador to the Republic of Poland Adel Mohammad Hayat hosted a celebration that gathered dozens of Polish senior politicians -including deputy speaker of parliament, public figures and business and media people as well as foreign diplomats. Meanwhile, Kuwait's Ambassador to Argentina Saud Al-Roumi held a reception in Buenos Aires to mark the national days. The reception was attended by senior Argentinian officials, Arab and Western diplomats. Kuwait's Embassy in Addis Ababa also held a reception to mark the national occasions, a ceremony that was attended by senior Ethiopian officials.