Kuwaiti cabinet briefed on letters to HH. Amir, results of HH PM's Asia

KUWAIT, Aug 18 (KUNA) -- The Kuwaiti cabinet held the weekly meeting at Al-Saif Palace Monday morning under chairmanship of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to discuss foreign affairs and domestic issues.

Commencing the meeting, HH the Prime Minister briefed the cabinet on a letter to HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah from French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Deputy Premier, Foreign Minister and Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Al-Salem Al-Sabah said in a press briefing.

The letter deals with the special bilateral ties between Kuwait and France and the latter's preparations for hosting the next summit of the Union for the Mediterranean in July, 2009.

The summit will discuss ways of enhancing cooperation between the Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Sheikh Dr. Mohammad pointed out.

The cabinet members were also briefed on a message to HH the Amir from Thomas Yayi Boni, President of Benin.

In his message, Boni who visited Kuwait recently, hailed HH the Amir's suggestion on development of abundant natural resources and land reclamation in Benin in a bid to solve the food crises in many African countries.

The cabinet mulled the invitation to HH the Amir by Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko to attend an international conference in Kiev, capital of Ukraine, in November on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Ukraine famine crisis (1932-1933).

The cabinet was also on the message to HH the Amir from Secretary General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Jacques Diouf.

Diouf appreciated the fruitful participation by the Kuwaiti delegation in the FAO senior-level meeting on international food security held in Rome in June.

HH the Prime Minister also briefed the meeting on the results of his recent successful tour of Asian countries.

HH the Prime Minister led a large economic delegation on tour of Brunei, Japan, Republic of Korea, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Philippines last week.

He held fruitful talks and signed agreements with leaders of these countries on promotion of bilateral ties in all fields particularly the economic and commercial ones, Sheikh Dr. Mohammad recalled.

During the cabinet meeting HH the Prime Minister hailed the sincere desire of the leaders of these Asian countries to work with Kuwait in order to achieve food security in Asia and build on the historical ties between these eight countries and Kuwait.

He also hailed the warm reception offered to him and his delegation during the tour.

He voiced confidence that Kuwait's bilateral ties with the eight countries would see remarkable progress to our mutual benefits," Sheikh Dr. Mohammad asserted.

Sheikh Nasser also briefed the cabinet on the formation of a technical panel, chaired by Advisor to the HH Prime Minister's Divan Dr. Ismael Al-Shatti.

The panel, also including representatives of the Foreign Ministry, Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA), Kuwait Fund for Economic Arab Development (KFAED) the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) and Kuwait Mills Co., will visit Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar to accelerate the implementation of the documents signed by HH the Prime Minister recently.

Meanwhile, Minister of Health Ali Mohammad Al-Barrak told the cabinet he accepted the resignation of Undersecretary of the Ministry Dr. Issa Al-Khalifa.

Al-Barrak extolled the efforts made by Al-Khalifa to develop the healthcare service nationwide and withed him success in serving the homeland wherever he is.

The cabinet reviewed the latest political developments in the Arabian Gulf, the Arab region and the world in general, Sheikh Dr. Mohammad added.