🇰🇼Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-SabahKuwait · UNGA 81 speech

Thank you Mr. President in the name of God most compassionate most merciful your excellency president of the General Assembly your excellency secretary general your majesties excellencies highnesses ladies and gentlemen may the peace and blessings of God be upon you At the outset, I am pleased to convey to you the greetings of His Highness the Emir of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, along with his wishes for the success of this session. We would also like to congratulate His Excellency Dr. Khalilur Rahman and the friendly people's republic of Bangladesh on his election as president of the General Assembly. We affirm our support for His Excellency and we salute his wise choice of theme for this session, Restoring Trust and Managing Transformation: A United Nations that Delivers for All. We would also like to express our gratitude to Her Excellency, Ms. Annalena Baerbock, for her valued efforts during her presidency of the previous session. We would be remiss not to applaud the efforts, good offices, and initiatives of the Secretary-General aimed at strengthening multilateralism and that include initiatives such as UN80 and the Pact for the Future, as well as the ongoing efforts to address global challenges, crises, conflicts, wars, climate change, and terrorism, as well as the efforts to assist member states in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and to strengthen international cooperation on artificial intelligence. We hope that these efforts will continue beyond the conclusion of the Secretary-General's term in a manner to guarantee the continuity of work to reform and develop the organization's bodies enhance its effectiveness and performance in discharging its responsibilities. In this context, we emphasize that Security Council reform and the Security Council is the body charged with maintaining international peace and security has become essential to keep pace with the significant increase in the number of member states and the changes in international relations since the establishment of the organization. There is an urgent need for the Council to become more representative, effective and transparent in carrying out its responsibilities. Mr. President, since last February, the State of Kuwait, the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan have been subjected to illegal Iranian aggression involving ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones. All while we are not a party to the conflict in the region, these attacks are a flagrant violation of the international law, international humanitarian law, and the UN Charter. These brutal attacks have systematically and repeatedly targeted civilian objects and critical infrastructure, including Kuwait International Airport, power and water stations, oil facilities as well, revealing a hostile approach aimed at disrupting the foundations of life and critical infrastructure. These heinous attacks have claimed the lives of several martyrs and innocent civilians. They have also resulted in numerous injuries and have inflicted material and economic damage. And furthermore, to inflict harm on the economies of the region and the world and to disrupt global trade and oil markets, Iran is obstructing maritime navigation and closing the Strait of Hormuz to use it as a bargaining chip in the war, in violation of international law and the relevant Security Council resolutions. In this regard, the State of Kuwait expresses its deep appreciation to the brotherly and friendly nations who have stood by Kuwait and demonstrated solidarity. We also salute the countries that have sponsored the Security Council Resolution 2817 and the other resolutions issued by the Human Rights Council and the International Maritime Organization, which have condemned the Iranian aggression as a threat to international peace and security. demanding its cessation and affirming the inherent rights of states to self-defense as per Article 51 of the UN Charter. They have also stressed the importance of guaranteeing freedom of navigation without restrictions or conditions. And based on Kuwait's belief that the security and stability of the Arabian Gulf region constitutes a fundamental pillar of regional and international security and stability, as demonstrated by the repercussions of the war and Iranian aggressions, we reiterate the support for all diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation and a peaceful resolution to the existing dispute. And we applaud the mediation efforts led by Qatar and Pakistan, while emphasizing the need to reach a sustainable regional understanding based on a firm commitment to the principles of good neighborliness, respect for state sovereignty, and the non-interference in internal affairs, as well as refraining from the use or threat of use of force. in addition to seizing support for proxies and militias and addressing the security concerns of all countries in the region, including the Iranian nuclear file, ballistic missiles and drones, while stressing the guarantee of freedom and safety of navigation and the right of passage through the Straits of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb in accordance with the international law and the 1982 UN Convention on Law of the Sea. Mr. President, the state of Kuwait is committed in its foreign policy to the principles of the UN Charter, in particular, respect for the principle of good neighborliness, respect for state sovereignty, and the non-interference in internal affairs. Accordingly, the state of Kuwait views the brotherly Republic of Iraq as a neighbor with whom we share close ties and are partners in security and stability since the fall of the former regime. In 2003, Kuwait has supported and stood by Iraq in facing security, political, and economic challenges in order to help Iraq restore its regional and international role and standing. Kuwait believes that a stable, secure, and prosperous Iraq serves the shared interests of Kuwait and the entire region. In this context, the state of Kuwait commends the measures taken by the Iraqi Prime Minister, Mr. Ali Al-Zaidi, to consolidate arms under state control and to strengthen Iraq's bilateral relations with neighboring countries. We look forward to enhancing confidence-building measures between the two countries and to elevate our bilateral relations to broader horizons, as well as to resolve all outstanding issues. Most important of these issues are the maritime border demarcation beyond marker 162, as per the rules of international law and the 1982 UN Convention on Law of the Sea. We also emphasize the need to adhere to bilateral security and technical agreements and arrangements signed between the two countries. Very important among these agreements is the Khur Abdallah Agreement and the 2008 Security Exchange Protocol. These agreements serve as vital legal and practical instruments for regulating navigation, protecting the environment, combating terrorism, as well as combating the illicit trafficking of arms and narcotics, and enhancing shared security. The State of Kuwait calls upon Iraq to cooperate with the High Level Representative of the Secretary General pursuant to Security Council Resolution 2792 in order to achieve the progress and desired outcomes regarding Kuwaiti prisoners and missing persons. as well as nationals of third countries, and the recovery of Kuwaiti property, including the national archives. Mr. President, the State of Kuwait reiterates its principled and firm position condemning the ongoing violations by the Israeli occupation forces against the brotherly Palestinian people. The Palestinian people continue to suffer under difficult living conditions caused by policies of displacement, arrests, and settlement.

We call for the full implementation of the comprehensive peace plan and its subsequent phase adopted by Security Council Resolution 2803. This includes the complete withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from Gaza, the assurance of humanitarian aid access, and the return of the Palestinian Authority to the Gaza Strip. we affirm that the Gaza Strip is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territory. In this regard, we welcome the measures and decisions taken by the United Kingdom, France and several other nations to condemn settlement activities and to impose sanctions against settlers involved in acts of violence and terrorism against Palestinians, as well as banning the import of goods and products originating from the settlements. The State of Qatar reiterates that a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in the region remains contingent upon an end to the Israeli occupation of all Arab territories, as well as enabling the Palestinian people to exercise their legitimate and inalienable rights. It also rests upon the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Mr. President, the sisterly Republic of Yemen is witnessing a serious military escalation as a result of the attacks by Houthi militias against several governorates and areas along the west coast, aimed at threatening navigation in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. In this regard, The State of Kuwait reiterated its full support for UN-led efforts aimed at a comprehensive, sustainable, and Yemeni-led settlement in accordance with the three agreed references. and the relevant Security Council resolutions, in particular Resolution 2216, the State of Kuwait affirms that any political settlement must safeguard Yemen's unity, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. A settlement must end the suffering of the Yemeni people and must open prospects for security, stability, and economic development. We also stress the need to preserve the security and safety of maritime navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. We also condemn in the strongest terms the attacks by the Houthis against the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, targeting civilian and economic facilities in several cities. In this context, we affirm that the security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an integral part of the security of the State of Kuwait and the security of the GCC Mr. President, the State of Kuwait reiterates its solidarity with the sisterly Syrian Arab Republic. We welcome the measures taken by the international community to lift the sanctions against Syria and to remove Syria's name from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. We also affirm our support for all efforts aimed at rebuilding state institutions and aimed at advancing a Syrian-led comprehensive, inclusive political process led by the Syrians with the active participation of all segments of society in Syria and aimed at fulfilling their aspirations for security, stability, and a life of dignity. In this context, we stress the need to respect Syria's sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity. We condemn and reject the attacks and incursions by Israeli occupation forces into Syrian territory. These acts are a serious escalation and a violation of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement. They undermine security and stability in the region. With regards to The sisterly Lebanese Republic, the State of Kuwait affirms the importance of Lebanese state institutions and the need to extend their full authority over the entire territory of Lebanon and to restrict the possession of arms exclusively to the state, thereby reinforcing Lebanon's sovereignty and preserving its security and stability. Here, we also emphasize the importance of maintaining an international presence along the Blue Line to ensure the full implementation of UN Resolution 1701. And we reiterate our demand for Israel's withdrawal from all occupied Lebanese territories. And with regards to developments in the Republic of Sudan, the Federal Republic of Somalia, and the State of Libya, we affirm the need to adhere to peaceful resolution and to engage in political dialogue to resolve disputes as per the relevant Security Council resolutions and the principles of international law so as to protect the unity, territorial integrity, and sovereignty of these sisterly nations. Mr. President, since Kuwait's independence, our foreign policy was based on firm principles. namely moderation and balance and a firm commitment to the Charter of the United Nations and international law and on support for multilateralism and the belief that dialogue and the peaceful settlement of disputes are the best means to maintain international peace and security. The state of Kuwait also believes in a complementary relationship between security and development. There can be no security without development and no development without security. Accordingly, Kuwait has based its development and humanitarian diplomacy on a pioneering role for the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development. Since 1961, the fund has contributed to financing development projects in 107 countries. This stems from a belief that addressing the root causes of crises is not limited to security measures, but requires supporting development, providing the foundations for a life of dignity, and building more resilient and stable societies. At the national level, Kuwait is confidently progressing towards its Kuwait Vision 2035 by accelerating the implementation of development projects, diversifying its economy and sources of income, continuing its digital transformation, empowering women and youth, developing its legislation, and consolidating governance and transparency. These efforts should enhance the efficiency of institutions and the competitiveness of the economy, and will establish Kuwait as a leading financial, commercial, and cultural center in the region. In conclusion, Mr. President, my country has known the cruelty of occupation and the bitterness of aggression and has suffered from wars that have ravaged and continue to ravage our region for four decades. From this experience, we have realized that they are the people who pay the price of conflicts. We have recognized the need for the world to stand together, united in support of justice and in adherence to the UN Charter and international law. Out of our experience, we became firmly convinced that peace is the choice of wisdom and is protected by ability. And dialogue does not diminish rights, but preserves them. and that security is not protected by force alone, but it is anchored in justice, the rule of law, and the principles of international legitimacy. The message of the state of Kuwait is one that has embraced in both word and deed, and to which it remains committed, that a just peace is the path to stability, and that respect for state sovereignty, the preservation of the rights of people, and recourse to international law for resolving disputes are indispensable pillars for security and stability of all states. The state of Kuwait shall remain as the world has known it to be, a voice of wisdom and moderation, a proponent of dialogue, cooperation, and openness to partnerships that serve mutual interests, a champion of justice, and a partner in consolidating international peace and security. We believe that peace is the path to a future where rights are protected, nations are stable, and generations enjoy security and prosperity. And may the peace and blessings of God be upon you.