Executive director of UNODC lauds relations with Kuwait

Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Yury Fedotov praised on Tuesday distinctive relations with Kuwait, valuing its role, cooperation, and contribution to reduction of phenomenon of drugs and organized crime through UNODC's Abu Dhabi branch. Fedotov, who also serves as Director General of the UN Office in Vienna (UNOV), stressed, while receiving credentials of the newly assigned Kuwait's Ambassador to Austria, permanent mission to the UN in Geneva Sadeq Mohammad Maarafi, importance of continued international and regional cooperation to eliminate all types of crimes. For his part, Ambassador Maarafi affirmed Kuwait's commitment to international agreements concerning crime, drugs, and anti-corruption, lauding at the same time Kuwait's ratifying and joining all types of agreements and treaties on reducing the spread of corruption and crime in all forms. Also, he praised UNODC's vital role in combating drugs and crimes, and in providing technical assistance to member states, pointing out the formation of the public authority of anti-corruption lately, which is entrusted to implement the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). In addition, Ambassador Maarafi indicated that Kuwait had submitted an official request to publish the report of the reviewing team of implementing the UNCAC on evaluating Kuwait's compliaance with UNCAC's provisions, which indicates its commitment to transparency, and keenness to implement the Convention's materials. He affirmed Kuwait's readiness to cooperate and assist in reducing the spread of crime and corruption on all arenas. Moreover, the two sides discussed ways to boost and improve bilateral cooperation between Kuwait and UNODC.