Tue, Jan 05, 2021
News Summary Report
EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Al-Ola Settlement
GCC settlement efforts were initiated by Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad and completed as desired by the Amir
Kuwait’s efforts for settling the GCC rift reached an important milestone yesterday by announcing key steps towards reconciliation just few hours before holding the GCC summit that will be hosted by Saudi Arabia today. A statement stressing GCC unity and reconciliation of all past disputes will be inked there.
Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Nasser announced reaching an agreement upon which air, marine and land crossings between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Qatar were opened yesterday evening based on a proposal from His Highness the Amir of the State of Kuwait. In this way, Kuwaiti diplomatic pursuits to keep the GCC unity, which was initiated by the late Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad, and continued by HH Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad through his intensified contacts and travels recently, were achieved.
“On the occasion of holding the GCC Summit in Al-Ola Governorate today (Tuesday), His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad made a phone call with Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim ben Hamad, and the Saudi Crown Prince Amir Mohammad Ben Salman in which all stressed their keenness on unity and reconciliation by inking on Al-Ola statement, which will mark a significant milestone in the history of brotherly relations”, said Al-Nasser in a statement.
“His Highness the Amir expressed his gratitude for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Ben Abdulaziz, and the Crown Price of KSA for their keen interest to achieve success for the summit. Further, HH voiced his trust in the keenness of the leaders of the GCC and Egypt that this summit will be a reconciliation summit enhancing solidarity”, he added.
His Highness the Amir has sent messages to leaders of the GCC to put an end to disputes and reach reconciliation.
Al-Qabas
HH the Amir Heads Kuwait Delegation at the GCC Summit Today
His Highness the Amir and his formal accompanying delegation will travel today (Tuesday) to the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to head Kuwait’s delegation at the 41st Round Meeting of the Supreme Council of the GCC Council that is scheduled in Al-Ola Governorate.
His Highness the Amir received at Bayan Palace yesterday His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad, Speaker of the National Assembly Marzouq Al-Ghanem, the Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al- Khaled, the Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali, the Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister for the Cabinet Affairs Anas Al-Saleh.
Further, His Highness the Amir sent a cable of condolences to His Highness the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Ben Abdulaziz where he voiced his condolences for the demise of the late Khaled Ben Faisal.
His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad, and HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled sent two similar cables.
His Highness the Crown Prince received at Bayan Palace yesterday Speaker of the National Assembly Marzouq Al-Ghanem, the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled, the Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali, the Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister for the Cabinet Affairs Anas Al-Saleh, Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Al-Nasser and the Interior Minister Sheikh Thamer Al-Ali.
Meanwhile, envoy of HH the Amir, the foreign minister Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Al- Nasser conveyed yesterday on January 04th, 2021 a verbal message to Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Ben Hamad, which included the strong brotherly relations connecting the two countries and the two peoples, and means of their support and enhancement in all fields. Further, the message included the latest updates in the regional and international arenas.
Al-Qabas
Kuwait Succeeds in Uniting GCC
Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Nasser announced that based on the proposal of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad, an agreement has been reached upon which air, sea and land crossings will be opened between Saudi Arabia and Qatar starting from yesterday evening. He said that
inking of Al-Ola Summit will be a new page in the history of brotherly relations between the two countries.
“On the occasion of the GCC Summit that scheduled to be held on Al-Ola Governorate in the KSA today, His Highness the Amir made a phone call to Sheikh Tamim Ben Hamad Amir of Qatar and Amir Mohammad Ben Salman the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia”, said Al-Nasser in a statement that was aired by Kuwait TV yesterday.
The phone call stressed on unity through inking of Al-Ola statement, which will make a new era of reconciliation, he added.
Further, he said that His Highness the Amir expressed his gratitude for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Ben Abdulaziz, and the Crown Prince of the KSA for their high concern to achieve success of the summit. He voiced his trust in keenness of the GCC leaders and Egypt that this summit will be a summit of unity, reconciliation and solidarity for the best interest of the GCC countries and Egypt.
Meanwhile, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Ben Salman said that the policy of the Kingdom under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques is based on a steadfast approach that aims to achieve the higher interests of the GCC and Arab countries; and to utilize all its efforts for the best interest of its people, and to achieve its security and stability” to face challenges facing us”.
Meanwhile, Reuters reported that a senior official at the US administration said,
“ the GCC agreement sets forth that Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt will lift their boycott of Qatar, and Doha will waive the associated juridical claims”, remarking that the summit will witness inking of a written agreement between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Today, His Highness the Amir will travel to Saudi Arabia to head the delegation of the State of Kuwait at the meeting of the 41st round of the GCC Summit that is scheduled to be held in Al-Ola, and which coincides with the 50th anniversary for establishing the council in 1981.
The Summit, which will be held in Saudi Arabia for the third consecutive year will be the first summit for His Highness the Amir after coming into office, and
the first summit after the demise of the late Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad, which was considered one of the most significant figures of GCC cooperation.
Meanwhile, Qatar didn’t announce whether its Amir Sheikh Tamim Ben Hamad will take part in the Summit, and Egypt was silent regarding response of President Abdulfattah Al-Sisi regarding an invitation to attend. Omani News Agency announced that Sultan Haitham ben Tareq will not attend the Summit, and that he delegated Fahad Ben Mahmoud Al-Saied the Deputy Prime Minister for the Cabinet Affairs to head the delegation of Oman. Bahrain News Agency (BNA) reported that the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister Salman Ben Hamad Al-Khalifa will head delegation of Al-Manama to the Summit.
It is expected that leaders will discuss a number of important issues to enhance cooperation and integration among member countries in the various political, defense, security, economic and social fields amid deep geopolitical transformations in the GCC region, the Arab region and the world.
Al-Jareeda
Amid Nature – Media Personnel Start Preparations for the GCC Summit Media people start their preparations to cover the works of the (41) Summit of the Supreme Council of Arab GCC Countries.
However, in unusual tradition, the media center accompanying the summit didn’t stay in one of the hotels or centers in the Capital, however, they stayed in a sunny and creative atmosphere amid high altitude mountains that characterize the landscape of Al-Ola governorate.
It is scheduled that later today (Tuesday), the GCC Summit will be held to mark the start of the fifth decade of the blessed history of the GCC council.
KUNA
GCC Leaders Arrives in Saudi Arabia to Attend 41st Summit
GCC leaders and delegations’ heads began arriving in Saudi Al-Ula Province, Tuesday, to attend the 41st Summit.
The Bahraini Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa arrived earlier today and was received by the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al-Saud, said Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The Bahraini Crown Prince was also received by GCC Secretary-General Dr.
Nayef Al-Hajraf and Bahraini Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Sheikh Homud Al- Khalifa.
Bahrain’s delegation includes Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Abdullatif Al- Zayani, and Minister of Finance and National Economy, Sheikh Salman Al- Khalifa.
Furthermore, Oman’s Deputy Prime Minister for Cabinet Affairs, Fahad Bin Mahmoud Al-Said, also arrived Al-Ula, where he was received by the Saudi Crown Prince.
The UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Dubai Ruler, Sheikh Mohmmad bin Rashed Al-Maktoum, arrived in Saudi Arabia and was received by the Saudi Crown Prince.
Qatar Amir Sheikh Tamim Al-Thani and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri arrived in Al-Ula to participate in the Summit.
KUNA
Kuwait Amir Hails Historic, Solid Kuwaiti-Saudi Ties
His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah stressed Tuesday on the historic and brotherly solid ties between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
His Highness the Amir, in a statement upon his arrival to Al-Ula city, expressed appreciation and brotherly feelings towards the Kingdom, its leaders and people.
His Highness the Amir also wished the Gulf and Arab countries all success to achieve their people aspirations.
KUNA
ECONOMY
Kuwait Oil Barrel Up $ 2.11 to Reach $ 52.75 pb – KPC
The price of Kuwaiti oil barrel rose $ 2.11 to stand at $ 52.75 per barrel on Monday, compared with $ 50.64 pb last Thursday, said Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) on Tuesday.
In international markets, Brent crude oil went down 71 cents to reach $ 51.09 per barrel, while West Texas crude dropped 90 cents to reach $ 47.62 pb.
KUNA
Kuwait Oil Min. Partakes in OPEC + Meetings
Minister of Oil and Minister of Electricity and Water Dr. Mohammad Al-Fares said, prior to his participation in the OPEC+ meeting, that Kuwait supports decisions that would maintain the oil market stability, especially considering negative consequences due to COVID-19, according to a press statement issued by the Oil Ministry.
Al-Fares will participate in the 25th meeting of the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) and the 13th Ministerial Meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC countries, also known as OPEC+, which will be held on Monday, today, through videoconference.
OPEC+ demonstrated its pioneering role in maintaining the stability of oil markets in order to ensure the common interest of consuming and oil-producing countries, encouraging the confidence among investors in the oil industry, he underlined.
While the effects of the second COVID-19 wave overall must be cautioned, with the start of vaccines distributed to several countries worldwide, it is expected that the demand for oil will gradually recover, especially during the second half of 2021, which opens up a chance to overcome the damages to the global economy after the COVID-19 wave recedes, consequently the demand for oil and petroleum products grows, he mentioned.
The Kuwaiti delegation to the two meetings, in addition to Al-Fares, includes both Kuwait’s Governor at OPEC Haitham Al-Ghais and Mohammad Al-Shatti, Kuwait’s national OPEC representative.
KUNA
DOMESTIC AFFAIRS
Great Efforts for the National Guard in Securing MOFA Building: Al- Nasser
The Deputy Chief of the National Guard, Senior Lt. General Sheikh Ahmad Al- Nawaf met yesterday the Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Al-Nasser.
Al-Nawaf welcomed the Foreign Minister and conveyed to him greetings of the Chief of the National Guard HH Sheikh Salem Al-Ali.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Minister commended the efforts of members of the National Guard in securing the building of the Foreign Ministry and their good manners with employees as well as visitors of MOFA.
Al-Qabas
Kuwait’s COVID-19 Recoveries Up By 273 to 147,784
Kuwait’s Ministry of Health (MOH) said Tuesday 273 people have recovered from COVID-19 in a span of 24 hours to reach a total of 147,784.
In a statement to KUNA, the ministry mentioned that the new total was based on clinical tests proving that patients are virus free.
KUNA
Sources:
KUNA: http://www.kuna.net.kw/Default.aspx?language=en
Al Rai: http://www.alraimedia.com/
Kuwait Times: http:/36Y5/www.news.kuwaittimes.net/website/
Arab Times: http://www.arabtimesonline.com/news/
MEED: http://www.meed.com/
Al Anbaa: http://www.alanba.com.kw/newspaper
Al-Seyassa : http://al-seyassah.com/
Al-Anbaa: https://www.alanba.com.kw/newspaper/
77777 Al-Jareeda: http://www.aljarida.com/
