KUWAIT CITY, July 3: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” This old adage best describes the official visit of HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to Latin American countries. The 30,000-mile tour, which starts on July 11, includes a high-caliber delegation that will travel across nine countries in South America not only to strengthen diplomatic ties but also to share their development experiences. This visit is expected to have a positive impact on the five-year development plan of Kuwait, considering the government has allocated KD 37 billion ($125 billion) for its implementation. According to the Office of the Prime Minister, Kuwait has not sent such a high-caliber delegation to other parts of the world for quite some time. The visit is expected to open several horizons for official and public-oriented initiatives in all spheres of life, especially the economy and politics.
Kuwait has been away from new economic powers in the world since its liberation from the Iraqi aggressors 20 years ago. The country has been busy fixing damages caused by the war, in addition to rebuilding internal and external policies based on the regional situation until 2003. This means that Kuwait was not diplomatically active in the Latin America at the time.

Challenges
Challenges related to internal politics have not given the country a chance to address other issues, leading to changes in its list of priorities. Political leaders at various levels have been busy dealing with controversial issues. The country has been struggling to return to the global limelight, especially after getting out of the ‘August 1990 tunnel’. Kuwait has not experienced complete political stability for several years due to controversies in the Parliament, which resulted in the formation of several governments within a short period and early legislative elections. These incidents have kept Kuwait out of the global arena. However, the premier’s determination to rebuild the nation, under the direct supervision of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, has resulted in the emergence of an idea on the need to take the necessary international action. Kuwait has started reaping the fruits of this step.

The Prime Minister’s Office has also clarified that the tour is part of a political environment full of achievements. Sheikh Nasser has expressed satisfaction over these accomplishments, especially the improved relations between the Parliament and government. The attitude of some lawmakers reflected positively on the projects approved by the Parliament towards the end of the term. This happened while certain lawmakers wanted to divert the government’s attention from the right path and plunge the country into a political pitfall. Nevertheless, majority of the lawmakers have agreed to push for national development in cooperation with the government. This determination has led to the passage of satisfactory laws and projects for the benefit of Kuwait.

Actions
The definition of institutional state forms the basis for the actions of Sheikh Nasser in dealing with various issues every time the minority lawmakers try to thwart the government’s efforts in serving the public. His office pointed out the premier considers the judiciary as the final arbiter whenever there is a misunderstanding between the executive and the legislature. He has never hesitated, even for a second, in demanding proper implementation of the law, because he believes the Constitution and the law should serve as arbiters between feuding parties. He has been doing this to avoid a situation in which some people act behind the scene and prevent disgruntled elements from working against public interest to impede the execution of major projects for the country and citizens.
The prime minister’s dedication in maintaining political stability in the country is not a plant on the sea rather it is a plant on land where the incoming generations can reap the fruits. He also raised the awareness of the current generation on the real meaning of changing the country within a tickle of an eye by amending some obsolete aspects of the Constitution.

Amend
The premier’s office has reiterated the government’s determination to amend any aspect of the Constitution that falls short of solving problems, since they are capable of distorting what the past generations have established. The government believes the change will preserve the achievements of the past and strengthen the present aspirations.
Kuwait needs to move to the next level by sharing experiences with other nations. This explains the significance of the tour of the high-caliber delegation led by the prime minister. The delegation includes the ministers of Foreign Affairs, Finance, Commerce and Industry, as well as prominent Kuwaiti businesspersons. The tour is aimed at strengthening diplomatic ties, opening doors for new investments, and learning from the experiences of other countries in the implementation of development plans.
The office announced the tour will continue for 21 days with a well-articulated agenda for the maximum benefit of the country. The delegation will visit Cuba, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Argentina and Mexico, among other nations.