By Sherouq Sadeqi (with photos)

ZARAGOZA, July 28 (KUNA) -- Kuwaits Information Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah arrived in this Spanish city Monday to attend the Kuwaiti National Day, which is due on Tuesday and held as part of the EXPO 2008 activities.

Upon his arrival, the Information Minister told KUNA that Kuwait's participation in the exhibition is part of Kuwait's keenness in being present in all activities in the international arena.

He added that as for EXPO 2008 and its title, which is "Water and Sustainable Development," Kuwait is interested is "having a role to highlight Kuwait's experience in this field."

"We should be keen on displaying Kuwait's water experience in such exhibitions that have a huge turnout of people," he affirmed, as it is a mean to reach and convey a message to as much people as possible.

As for the cultural activities that are held as part of the exhibition, Sheikh Sabah noted that the Information Ministry places great importance in the culture and media therefore it is keen on participating in such events.

He indicated that the Information Ministry also has partners, such as the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science (KFAS) and the ministries of public works and electricity and water, in addition to the private sector specialized in the treatment of water.

The Information Minister stressed that he considers this "an integrated work" and hoped that through this participation "we highlight the great effort Kuwait exerts in the desalination and preservation of water."

Furthermore, Sheikh Sabah stressed the importance of water, especially that the whole world is witnessing at the present time a food crisis, therefore land needs water too to face this crisis.

As for the Kuwaiti national day on Tuesday, he noted that the Kuwaiti and Spanish flag will be hoisted and the Kuwaiti national anthem will be played.

He added that then he will be addressing a speech on this occasion, with the head of the Spanish delegation, and that the Kuwaiti television troupe will be performing.

He indicated that he will also be visiting the Kuwaiti and Spanish pavilions and will be attending a luncheon that will be held in honor of the Kuwaiti delegation.

He praised the idea of the organizers of the exhibition to give every participating country a day to celebrate its national day, saying "therefore we are keen on being part of these events."

For his part, the Kuwait Ambassador to Spain, Adel Al-Ayyar told KUNA that "it is an honor for us that the Kuwaiti Information Minister will be heading the Kuwaiti delegation to this national event."

He added that his presence reflects the importance of the EXPO and the success that the Kuwaiti pavilion has achieved so far.

The Ambassador indicated that the Kuwaiti pavilion is considered one of the top three pavilions, along with Japan and Germany, at the exhibition, which is an "honor that Kuwait ranks with one of those countries in attracting the highest number of visitors."

Al-Ayyar thanked all the participating bodies, namely the Kuwaiti Information Ministry, in particular the foreign media department. He also thanked the "godfather" of the Kuwaiti pavilion, the Information Undersecretary Sheikh Faisal Al-Malek Al-Sabah.

The Ambassador indicated that the Kuwaiti television troupe will be performing at the Municipality of Zaragoza tonight as part of a three-day Kuwaiti festival, as well as on Tuesday at the exhibition.

He added that the troupe will also be performing in Mijas and Marbella on Saturday and Sunday as part of Kuwaiti festival days.

The Information Minister was received upon his arrival at the airport by deputy president of the Aragon district government Ramon Zapatero Gomez, the Kuwaiti Ambassador, Deputy chairman of the organizing committee and the undersecretary of the administrative and financial affairs at the Kuwaiti Information Ministry Ibrahim Al-Nouh and other Information Ministry officials.

Kuwait is one of the major participants in the Expo 2008, where its pavilion in the exposition covers an area of about 5,000 square meters.

Kuwaits participation in this annual event comes in line with the instructions of H.H. the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and in response to an invitation from the King Juan Carlos.

Kuwait, in the expo, is displaying its field experiences in the fields of water and water desalination.

Copyright Kuwait News Agency 2008.