06 December 2013
KUWAIT: British Foreign Secretary William Hague said that a peaceful solution in Syria requires the departure of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. "We have always been very clear that a peaceful solution in Syria must require the departure of President (Bashar) Al-Assad," William Hague, United Kingdom Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, said during a joint press conference with his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs yesterday. The press conference was held in Kuwait's Foreign Affairs Ministry yesterday.

"It is impossible to imagine after so many deaths, so much destruction, a regime oppressing and murdering its own people on this scale. It is impossible to imagine, I think, President Assad could remain on the scene in Syria in the future," Hague added.

He asserted that Assad is an obstacle to a peace settlement in Syria. "We believe it is imperative for him to go," he said adding that the UK supports and recognizes the Syrian National Coalition as legitimate representatives of the Syrian people. "We call on other groups in Syria to support them," he said. Asked about the nature of the E3+3 discussions with Iran, he said they focused exclusively on the nuclear issue. "We will try to improve our relations with Iran on a step-by-step basis," Hague said.

In his opening remarks at the press conference, Hague said, "Our commitment to our partners in the Gulf is very strong and nothing will change that commitment. Indeed, we are looking to intensify our security cooperation, our foreign policy cooperation with our partners in the Gulf over the coming years." Hague further explained that he enjoyed the opportunity to see firsthand the closeness and "the warmth of our bilateral relationship," which he said "is founded on "trust, respect and shared history."

He went on to add that it is a relationship that has broadened and deepened today through the close links between Kuwait and the United Kingdom. "Ours is a lasting friendship. We are very determined in the United Kingdom that that remains the case," he added. He said that he was delighted with the announcement of UK's Prime Minister David Cameron that Kuwait will be taking part in the UK's first electronic visa waiver scheme.

In Hague's words the major issues facing the region were the focus of the discussions in Kuwait. "I want to pay tribute to the dedication and the generosity with which Kuwait has led the world on providing the assistance necessary to try to deal with the worst humanitarian catastrophe in Syria."

On his part, Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Kuwait's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs said that the visit of the British Foreign Secretary comes to "continue the ongoing discussions between the two countries" and to strengthen the "historic ties since the middle of the 18th century" which he said "were solidified by HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah's visit to the United Kingdom in November 2012″.

He stressed that the visit comes at the right time after the conclusion of the third meeting of the British-Kuwaiti Joint Steering Group in London during which the discussions focused on boosting cooperation in investment, trade, education, defense, immigration and visas.

Mentioning Kuwait's celebration for the 60th anniversary of establishing the Kuwaiti investment office in the United Kingdom, Sheikh Khaled Al-Sabah said that the two countries "are looking to improve economic ties and to increase the trade volume to $4 billion." Sheikh Khaled Al-Sabah also expressed his gratitude to the British government "and to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Commonwealth for their efforts" in allowing Kuwaiti citizens to obtain online visas for entry into the United Kingdom.

Earlier yesterday Hague met National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim discussing bilateral ties between the two friendly countries. The talks dealt with means of cementing these ties, regional and international affairs. He also met Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Sabah, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Minister of Health. Yesterday afternoon, Hague attended an event organized by Sout Al-Kuwait, a civic lobby group advocating personal and social freedoms through the activation and preservation of the rights stipulated in the Kuwaiti Constitution, to experience the open nature of Kuwaiti politics and get an insight into the important role played by civil society. The participants engaged in a lively discussion on democracy, political participation and youth empowerment.

© Kuwait Times 2013