Kuwait Times

Published Date: July 30, 2010

BUENOS AIRES: His Highness the Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and Argentinean President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner held official talks at the presidential palace in Buenos Aires Wednesday afternoon. The talks took place in a cordial atmosphere, reflecting the depth of relations between the two countries.

The two sides discussed bilateral relations and means to boost them in all areas, in the interest of their two countries and peoples, and also talked about regional and international matters of mutual concern. Following the talks, His Highness Sheikh Nasser and President de Kirchner attended a ceremony during which several agreements were signed between their countries.

The first set of agreements were for cultural cooperation, as well as scientific and technical cooperation, and a memorandum of understanding for bilateral deliberation between the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry and the Argentina's Ministry of Foreign Relations, International Trade and Worship. These were signed by Kuwait's Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah and Argentinean Minister of Foreign Relations, International Trade and Worship Jorge Enrique Taiana.

A memorandum of understanding was also signed between the governments of the two countries in the environment and sustainable development area. This was signed by Kuwait's Foreign Undersecretary Khalid Sulaiman Al-Jarallah and Argentina's Secretary for Environment and Sustainable Development Homero Maximo Bibiloni.

Earlier in the day, Sheikh Nasser and the accompanying delegation visited the San Martin memorial. Argentinean President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner welcomed Wednesday evening the invitation extended to her by His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to visit the Gulf state.

In a speech at a dinner banquet she held in honor of Sheikh Nasser, she said that such a visit would open up new horizons for cooperation between the two sides. She noted that it would also be an important event in the history of relations between the two countries, which she said had witnessed great development in the past four years that surpassed that made in the previous 30.

President de Kirchner said that Argentina welcomed the visit of the Kuwaiti Premier, which reflected the interest of Kuwait and the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Argentina and Latin American states and their keenness for expanding the scope of cooperation between them. Argentina will continue to support Kuwait and Arab issues at international conventions, she affirmed.

Moreover, the Argentinean leader said that her country had an abundance of natural resources and that there were great opportunities for investment in the fields of agriculture, mining and tourism, adding that these were open to the Kuwaiti government and the private sector.

President de Kirchner noted that her country was open towards global investment, and that the government offered guarantees to foreign investments, thereby protecting their interests. On his part, Sheikh Nasser expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome and hospitality with which he and his accompanying delegation were received in Argentina, saying that this reflected the depth of the historic relations between Kuwait and Argentina.

He recounted the honorable role of Argentina and its support for Kuwait when it was invaded by Iraqi forces in 1990, saying that Buenos Aires supported all international resolutions that led to the liberation of the Gulf state, and also took part in the naval force of the Coalition. This stance of Argentina will remain in the minds and hearts of Kuwaitis, he said.

Sheikh Nasser said that despite the geographic distance, technology was now helping to bring people closer together, adding that while Argentina was in South America and Kuwait was on the Arabian Gulf, this did not prevent the two countries from extending bridges of friendship.

The Kuwaiti Premier said that Argentina was one of the largest Latin American countries and that it had long borders with its neighbors, explaining that his visit to Argentina was to further boost cooperation not only in the political, commercial and economic fields, but also in cultural affairs so that the two peoples would better understand each other.

He said further that the delegation representing the Kuwaiti private sector would have an opportunity to meet with their counterparts here to discuss economic and commercial cooperation, and especially investment. - KUNA