US ambassador hails over century of relations with Kuwait

US Ambassador Mathew Tueller said that of his country's economic, political and cultural relations with Kuwait were very strong. This came in a speech the ambassador gave at an embassy celebration of the liberation of Kuwait from Iraqi occupation for its English language grant, ACCESS Scholarship Programme, students in collaboration with Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah at the Amricani Cultural Centre. The ambassador expressed delight at what he had witnessed of flags being raised at homes, and displays of joy and celebration in the streets, congratulating His Highness the Kuwaiti Amir, government and people on the occasions of the anniversary of liberation and the National Day. Some three Kuwaitis were invited to the event as guest speakers - some of many - who volunteered to assist the US military as translators in the war to liberate their country during their college years in the US. The US military wanted to make use of the efforts of the Kuwaiti students in translation and intended to give them the opportunity to contribute to freeing their own country, said the ambassador. Noting to the venue, the ambassador said there was no better place to celebrate the anniversary of the Kuwaiti liberation and historic relations with the country than the Amricani Cultural Centre, due to what it represents as a firm pillar in exceptional relations that have lasted over a century. For his part, Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah's director of programmes and public relations Osama Al-Balhan, in his own speech, hailed the US Embassy's English language programme for encouraging learning and the spread of culture amongst such a large number of Kuwaitis. The host venue, the Amricani Cultural Centre, was built in 1914 as a hospital for the US mission in Kuwait at the time, and today it has become one of Kuwait's symbols of modernity, he stressed. Saud Al-Zaid - one of the three guest speakers and who currently occupies a senior post in the giant Kuwaiti telecom firm Zain - said, that upon hearing of the invasion that Kuwaitis in the US began to organise rallies and committees aimed at gaining support of their cause. He immediately said yes when called upon by the US military, and he did so to defend his country in light of his sense of responsibility that obligated him to take part in all efforts aimed at freeing Kuwait, he said. Similarly, Maan Al-Rasheed, who is now Chairman of Boubyan International Industries Holding, hailed, in particular, the military aspect of US support of his country at that time, saying he was thankful for these efforts.