Speech of H.E. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Mohammad Sabah AlSalem AlSabah during the first meeting of the Joint Committee between the State of Kuwait and Japan in Tokyo on June 2, 2010
In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
His Excellency Katsuya Okada, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan
Ladies and Gentlemen.
At the outset, I would like to express my pleasure at the presence of myself and the members of the accompanying delegation in Japan, and to extend my sincere thanks to the Japanese side for the warm reception and hospitality.
It is fortuitous that the work of the First Joint Commission is taking place on the eve of the golden jubilee of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, which were established on December 8, 1961.
Ladies and Gentlemen
Recognizing the keenness of the leadership of the two countries to deepen relations and push them to broader horizons, the visits of senior officials have witnessed an escalating pace in recent years, culminating in the reciprocal visits of Their Highnesses and Prime Ministers of the two friendly countries, starting with the visit of His Highness the Amir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah in 2004 to Japan when His Highness was Prime Minister and the visit of HE Shinzo Abe, former Prime Minister of Japan, on April 30, 2007, to the State of Kuwait, culminating in the 2008 visit by HE Prime Minister Naser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad AlSabah, may God protect him, to Japan, which was followed by the visit of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea in 2008.
In this regard, we recall with pride the bright and courageous historical positions that Japan stood with the Kuwaiti right when the regime in 1990 invaded the State of Kuwait until it was liberated from the clutches of aggression. We also recall the wonderful efforts made by our Japanese friends in helping to rehabilitate the Kuwaiti environment as a result of the destruction caused by this brutal invasion, which is still suffering from its effects until this moment, as well as the wonderful efforts made by our Japanese friends in helping to rehabilitate the Kuwaiti environment as a result of the destruction caused by this brutal invasion.
Ladies and Gentlemen
We have followed with great concern and anger the recent developments in the Gaza Strip. In this regard, we emphasize that the attack by Israeli forces on civilian ships represents an Israeli crime that embodies the aggressive nature pursued by Israel and is a new episode in the series of crimes against humanity and a flagrant violation of international law, which requires urgent and immediate intervention by the United Nations and the international community to completely lift the unjust siege on the Gaza Strip.
Honorable Brother Katsuya Okada.
I would like to extend an invitation to Your Excellency and the delegation of your friendly country to participate in the second meeting of our joint committee next year in the State of Kuwait, during which we are preparing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two friendly countries.
At the end of my speech, I hope that the work of this committee will be crowned with success and bring great benefit to the two countries and their peoples, and that it will be one of the building blocks of the historical relations between the two friendly countries.
May God's peace, mercy and blessings be upon you.