Kuwait marks Sunday six decades since it joined the United Nations (UN) amid fervent efforts to achieve peace and security and promote development and human rights worldwide, reflecting the country’s foreign police since it became the 111th member.
Kuwait has ever since proved its competence and efficiency among other UN members by becoming non-permanent UN Security Council (UNSC) member in 1978 and then 2018, and supporting global justice and the self-determination of nations and peoples.
Kuwait has defended Arab and Islamic issues, mainly including the Palestinian cause, humanitarian issues, UNSC mechanism development, promotion of preventive diplomacy and mediation and prevention of conflicts.
Since becoming a UN member, Kuwait has adopted an unwavering approach of foreign policy, chiefly centered on the delivery of humanitarian and relief to all needy countries only out of its belief in the significance of international partnership.
Over recent years, Kuwait has become in the forefront of international humanitarian action by playing a key role in this field through its official agencies and charities and organizing three world donors’ conferences on Syria.
Kuwait’s great humanitarian initiatives have prompted the UN to grant the Gulf country the title of a global humanitarian hub and to name late Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah a global humanitarian leader in appreciation for his great humanitarian role.
As part of its highly commended relief efforts, Kuwait has recently pledged USD 90 million to support UN efforts to help refugees in the aftermath of recent powerful earthquakes in Syria and Turkiye.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths voiced gratitude to the State of Kuwait for this generous aid that would be immediately delivered to affected families in earthquake-hit areas.
On this occasion, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah vowed that his country would remain to be a staunch supporter of UN efforts in offering emergency humanitarian and relief aid.
The State of Kuwait was elected Vice President of the UN General Assembly for the 21st and 27th sessions, member of the Economic and Social Council for three years in 1967, chosen as council member in 1992, and elected member of the council’s transcontinental cooperation committee in 1975.
It has also proved effective presence in several international organizations such as the Universal Postal Union, International Civil Aviation Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization, International Monetary Fund, World Bank and International Atomic Energy Agency.
In recognition of the significance of the United Nations, Kuwait opened the UN House in January 2009 in a ceremony that was attended by then UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, reflecting deep relations between Kuwait and the UN.
In response to the anguish of many development countries, Kuwait has established a decent life fund with a capital of USD 100 million, aiming at developing and improving agricultural production in developing countries.
It also donated USD 150 million to an OPEC fund created in 2007 for research and studies pertinent to energy, environment and climate change.
Kuwait’s aid makes up over 1.3 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP), exceeding the internationally allocated ratio of 0.7 percent. Kuwait set aside 10 percent of its voluntary contributions for supporting the UN and its agencies; having doubled this figure in September 2014.
Source: Kuwait News Agency