Kuwait Times

Published Date: November 09, 2009

RIYADH: Kuwait's First Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah arrived in the Saudi capital yesterday on a day-long visit. The minister will hand over a written message from HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to the custodian of the two holy mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz.

Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak was received at the International King Khaled Airport by the Assistant Minister of Defense Prince Khaled Bin Sultan, the Kuwaiti ambassador Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali Al-Sabah, the head of the Military Bureau of the Kuwaiti Embassy, Lt Col Obeid Al-Ajmi, and embassy staff. Kuwait has declared strong support for the kingdom vis-a-vis any external bids targeting its territorial sanctity and sovereignty. Saudi Arabia supported Kuwait during the 1990-1991 Iraqi aggression. Kuwait and Sau
di Arabia are bound with warm and historic relations and both are members of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC).

Meanwhile, National Assembly Speaker Jassem Al-Kharafi yesterday sent a cable of solidarity and support to his Saudi counterpart, Chairman of the Saudi Shura Council, Sheikh Dr Abdullah Al-Sheikh, expressing solidarity with the kingdom vis-a-vis recent territorial breaches. The speaker said in the cable, "With great dismay and sadness I have followed up on recent events witnessed by the kingdom of Saudi Arabia namely the breach of its territorial sanctity and sovereignty, with the intention of targeting th
e kingdom's security, safety, independence and its citizens.

Al-Kharafi expressed public outcry on these acts of provocation, which represented a flagrant breach on the sovereign state, and paid tribute to the measures taken by the kingdom in defense of its unity. Al-Kharafi affirmed Kuwait's firm position with "our brothers in Saudi Arabia," and wished the kingdom lasting peace.

Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Dr Mohammad Al-Sabah underlined Kuwait's full support for Saudi Arabia in defending its borders from attacks by Yemeni rebels or any other foreign aggressors. MP Mohammad Al-Hayef issued a statement condemning support for rebels in Yemen, and their assault on the Saudi-Yemeni border area. Al-Hayef called on those supporting this insurgency to stop feeding violence in the region. Another MP, Dr Walid Al-Tabtabae, also criticized the attacks on the Saudi and its borders.

In another development, Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr Al-Qarbi has ignited anger, alleging in an interview broadcast on Al-Jazeera satellite TV channel that Yemeni rebels are receiving funds from supporters in Kuwait, as well as Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. - KUNA