By NNN-KUNA,
Washington : Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Nasser al-Mohammad al-Ahmad al-Sabah has said here that his visit to the US is aimed at meeting with President George W.Bush to exchange views over a host of bilateral relations.
Speaking to KUNA on arrival at the Andrews Air Force Base at Prince George’s county in Maryland near Washington for a three-day visit Wednesday, Sheikh Nasser said he was happy to be in Washington to meet Bush “to discuss and exchange views over the distinguished bilateral relations.”
The visit, added Sheikh Nasser, would continue previous discussions between Bush and the Emir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. “There is no doubt the solid relations between the State of Kuwait and the US are historic,” he said, citing Washington’s support for Kuwait during the former Iraqi regime’s 1990-91 invasion of Kuwait.
“We highly appreciate this (support) and we cannot forget the US position in supporting the people of Kuwait,” said the Kuwaiti Prime Minister. This visit is a good opportunity to discuss with the US officials the fate of “our sons held at Guantanamo and to reaffirm Kuwait’s firm rejection of terrorism or backing it by any form,” he said.
The Kuwaiti side will assert to the Americans that “donations of Kuwaiti charitable societies and committees are used indiscriminately to assist the needy and those affected by the crises,” said Sheikh Nasser.
The Prime Minister said his visit to the US would be a chance as well to meet the Kuwaiti students in America, and to encourage them to study hard to serve their country in various domains.
The Kuwaiti Prime Minister was welcomed at Andrews Base by Kuwait Ambassador to the United States Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, members of Kuwait embassy staff and the Kuwaiti community in the United States.
During his visit, Sheikh Nasser will also meet Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, Speaker of the Congress Nancy Pelosi, and other ranking US officials before travelling to New York on Friday to deliver next week Kuwait’s speech before the United Nations General Assembly.
“The President (Bush) and Prime Minister will discuss the strong bilateral relationship between the United States and Kuwait, our joint efforts in the War on Terror, and a range of regional issues,” said White Houses National Security Council spokesperson Gordon Johndroe in an interview with KUNA.
“The meeting will likely focus on strengthening our close ties to support regional stability and enhancing counterterrorism cooperation,” he added. It is the first visit of Sheikh Nasser Al-Sabah to Washington since he was appointed as Prime Minister in February 2006.
The last Kuwaiti Prime Minister to visit the US capital was the Emir in July 2005, September 2003 and November 2001. Before that, the late Father Amir Saad al-Abdallah al-Salem al-Sabah in July 1988 when he was a Prime Minister.
Sheikh Nasser is accompanied by an official delegation that included Adviser to the Emir Abdul Rahman Salem al-Atiqi, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Sheikh Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, the Adviser in the Prime Minister’s Diwan Ismail Khodr al-Shatti, Finance Minister Mustafa Jassem al-Shamali, Governor of Ahmadi Sheikh Ibrahim Duaij al-Sabah, the Adviser in the Prime Minister’s Diwan Sheikh Salem Al-Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, and Foreign Under Secretary Ambassador Khaled Sulaiman Al-Jarallah.