Headline News

Sheikh Nasser meets the Pope, heads to Bosnia

Published Date: November 24, 2009

VATICAN CITY/SARAJEVO: Pope Benedict XVI yesterday met visiting Kuwaiti Prime Minister HH Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah at the Vatican. Warmly welcomed by the Pope following a red-carpet reception, the premier delivered him a letter from HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. They then held a 25-minute closed-door meeting and were later joined by members of the Kuwaiti delegation. At the end of the meeting, Sheikh Nasser gave the Pope a rare copy of the Holy Quran.

He then held talks with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone on the good relations between Kuwait and the Vatican, several regional and international issues of mutual interest, and how to help shore up world stability and peace and dialogue. At the end of his visit, Sheikh Nasser and his accompanying party toured the Vatican's renowned artistic and historical landmarks.

Suhail Shuhaibar, Kuwait's Ambassador to the Vatican, told KUNA the visit of Sheikh Nasser was a distinctive mark in the bilateral relations between Kuwait and the Vatican. He said the visit was dominated by a friendly and warm atmosphere. Shuhaibar said Bertone considered Kuwait an example to be followed in the region because it was respecting freedom of religion and was not interfering in religious practices. Kuwait and the Vatican established diplomatic relations in 1969. The Vatican opened its first em
bassy in the region in Kuwait in 1992.

Sheikh Nasser later arrived in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo yesterday on an official two-day visit. The prime minister was warmly received at Sarajevo Airport by the country's Bosnian presidency member Haris Silajdzic and other leading Bosnian officials. Silajdzic then honored Sheikh Nasser with a dinner banquet at his residence. Today, the premier will hold talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina's three-member presidency including Silajdzic (Bosnian), Nebojsa Radmanovic (Serb) and Zeljko Komsic (Croat). The ta
lks will discuss bilateral agreements on several issues. Officials accompanying the prime minister will also hold separate talks with Bosnian officials from the state and the trade commission. - KUNA