By NNN-KUNA
Kuwait : Saudi Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud said Friday his nation would never become a passageway or shelter for any force in the world.
This came in a press statement after inaugurating his nation’s new embassy building at Kuwait’s embassies zone.
Asked if Saudi Arabia would allow the US to use any of the Gulf’s military bases to attack Iran, Prince Sultan said his country was not “a crossing point or shelter for any force in the world.” Commenting on Iran’s declaration to attack the Gulf region if assaulted by the US, Prince Sultan said it was not in Iran’s interest to harass any side.
As for the issue of the three United Arab Emirates (UAE) islands occupied by Iran, he said this was a complex issue and these islands were Arab no matter what claims were made by Iran or any other side.
He said the new embassy did not only belong to Saudi Arabia as it was both Arab and Islamic, adding that establishing it in Kuwait did not make it an embassy in the traditional sense, but rather an embodiment of Kuwaiti-Saudi diplomatic cooperation.
Regarding Kuwait’s care for about 120,000 Saudi nationals residing in it, he believed they were lucky to be in this nation.
On his part, Kuwait’s Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah said this building was not only an embassy, but it was also Saudi Arabia’s house in Kuwait.
He hoped both nations would always be close through further mutual respect as part of their 200-year historical ties, noting that such relations could not be described with words.
Asked if Prince Sultan’s visit included discussing matters such as oil and borders, Sheikh Mohammad said these issues had been taken care of a long time ago as they were jointly settled since 1965.
Regarding extraordinary measures in the face of potential Iranian threats in the region, he believed there were not any Iranian threats against Kuwait, noting that every nation in the world has the right to take self-protection measures.
As for Saudi Ambassador to Kuwait Dr. Abdul-Aziz Al-Fayez, he said the embassy’s inauguration was a historical occasion, adding that Prince Sultan’s patronage of this occasion came from his deep respect for Kuwait.
This embassy would handle administrative affairs that would be limited in light of distinguished Saudi-Kuwaiti ties and constant consultations between the two nations’ leaderships, he said.
Al-Fayez said before heading to Kuwait that he had met with Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, Prince Sultan and Interior Minister Prince Naif who all stressed serving Saudi citizens residing or visiting Kuwait.
The embassy will do its best in serving all Saudi citizens in accordance with rules and regulations, said Al-Fayez.
The inauguration was also attended by Governor of Riyadh Prince Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, as well as head of the accompanying mission of honour and chairman of Kuwait’s National Security Apparatus Sheikh Ahmad Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.