Kuwaiti PM to deal with Syria, Iraq at general assembly talks

His Highness the Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah arrives in New York on Friday to attend the 68th General Assembly session at a time it gains huge significance due to the current political turmoil in Syria. Kuwait's Permanent Ambassador to the UN Mansour Al-Otaibi, in remarks to KUNA, indicated that the Syrian crisis, namely the chemical arms issue and prospected issuance of a resolution against the Damascus regime would be among topics of the meeting agenda, in addition to other issues related to development worldwide. There is also no doubt that Syria will feature highly in international, regional and bilateral talks held on sidelines of the session, he added. In his speech at the General Assembly on September 25, HH the Kuwaiti prime minister will highlight political, security and economic challenges worldwide, the Middle East and Syria in particular, and Kuwait's role in providing assistance to developing and under-developed countries. HH the prime minister is also expected, in a separate meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in two days' time to discuss, along with Syria, several issues related to Kuwait, including relations with Iraq, the Middle East peace process and Kuwaiti support for UN development programmes. Preparations are also being made for the prime minister to meet Iraqi Vice President Khodair al-Khozaei, with a meeting, in turn, between the Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari. These meetings will be held against background of completion of maintenance of the neighbouring countries' border markers, ratification of a navigation regulation agreement at Khor Abdullah - an estuary waterway shared by both countries - and concluding mission of the special UN coordinator for the issue of missing Kuwaiti individuals and property according to Security Council resolution 2107. "Both countries are expected to address a joint letter to the UN chief which will bid farewell to the agreement to regulate navigation in Khor Abdullah," revealed Al-Otaibi. Elaborating, Al-Otaibi said the "Gulf Troika" which comprises Kuwait, Bahrain and the GCC Secretary General will hold several coordination meetings, next week, with heads of regional groups and ministers of the Security Council permanent member states. Moreover, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled will represent Kuwait at other meetings, grouping representatives of "Yemen's Friends," the Non-Aligned Movement and the Islamic Cooperation Organization. On Monday, a "crucial meeting" for the Arab-African coordination committees wil be held in preparation for the Arab-African Summit, due in Kuwait in November. Ambassador Al-Otaibi added that the Kuwaiti delegation would take part in a series of other meetings and round-table gatherings due to address a host of issues, namely development, nuclear disarmament and migration.