Parliament speaker: Brussels visit within efforts to waive Schengen visa for Kuwaitis

Parliament Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim said Monday his visit to Belgium, seat of the European Union (EU), was part of Kuwait's efforts to exempt Kuwaiti citizens from the Schengen visa requirement. Al-Ghanim, in a press statement before leaving for the Belgian capital heading a parliamentary delegation, said the visit to Brussels was very important because it aimed at activating political, economic and parliamentary relations and cooperation with the Belgian Parliament and the European Union (EU) members. He said his talks with members of the European Parliament (EP) would focus on regional and international issues. "The visit is part of other visits to EU countries to rally parliamentary support for Kuwait's request to waive the Schengen visa for its citizens ... considering Kuwait as a democratic country in the Middle East," he said. The request of Kuwait is taking place in two directions, he explained, one through the government and foreign ministry which was submitted to the European Commission and EU member countries. The other direction, he added, needed the EP's approval "and this is the role we do." The Kuwaiti parliamentary delegation is due to meet EP President, Speaker of the Belgian House of Representative, Belgian foreign minister and chairman of EP's foreign relations committee.