09 October 2010
SIRTE - Kuwait's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed Al-Sabah emphasized on Friday the importance of Afro-Arab ties, and his country's historic links with the black continent.
Sheikh Mohammed, also Deputy Prime Minister, told reporters on the sidelines of the Afro-Arab foreign ministers meeting here that the joint summit comes to consolidate ties between the two sides which have faced many hurdles lately. Sheikh Mohammed said that Kuwait is proud to have deep-rooted ties with nearly 40 African nations which received some USD 2.5 billion in direct Kuwaiti aid over the past decades, in addition to huge contributions to eliminate diseases and epidemics in the continent.
He added that since the 1970s, Kuwait has cooperated with the World Health Organization (WHO) in fighting many diseases in African countries such as Senegal, Zambia and Cote D'ivoire, stressing that Kuwait's cooperation with Africa is purely for humanitarian purposes.
He said Kuwait's invitation to host the Afro-Arab summit after three years received great support from African nations.
Sheikh Mohammed said bolstering Afro-Arab ties would greatly help Arabs in their peace negotiations with Israel.
He noted that the United States, China and the European Union have taken huge interest in Africa by pumping great investment there and said that Arab states must follow suit.
The top Kuwaiti diplomat said that Africa own big natural resources that could meet the needs of its people, pointing out that Sudan on its own can provide the entire Arab world with food resources.
He also emphasized the need to bolster Afro-Arab ties in all field, mainly water resources.
SIRTE - Kuwait's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed Al-Sabah emphasized on Friday the importance of Afro-Arab ties, and his country's historic links with the black continent.
Sheikh Mohammed, also Deputy Prime Minister, told reporters on the sidelines of the Afro-Arab foreign ministers meeting here that the joint summit comes to consolidate ties between the two sides which have faced many hurdles lately. Sheikh Mohammed said that Kuwait is proud to have deep-rooted ties with nearly 40 African nations which received some USD 2.5 billion in direct Kuwaiti aid over the past decades, in addition to huge contributions to eliminate diseases and epidemics in the continent.
He added that since the 1970s, Kuwait has cooperated with the World Health Organization (WHO) in fighting many diseases in African countries such as Senegal, Zambia and Cote D'ivoire, stressing that Kuwait's cooperation with Africa is purely for humanitarian purposes.
He said Kuwait's invitation to host the Afro-Arab summit after three years received great support from African nations.
Sheikh Mohammed said bolstering Afro-Arab ties would greatly help Arabs in their peace negotiations with Israel.
He noted that the United States, China and the European Union have taken huge interest in Africa by pumping great investment there and said that Arab states must follow suit.
The top Kuwaiti diplomat said that Africa own big natural resources that could meet the needs of its people, pointing out that Sudan on its own can provide the entire Arab world with food resources.
He also emphasized the need to bolster Afro-Arab ties in all field, mainly water resources.
© KUNA (Kuwait News Agency) 2010
