KUWAIT CITY, Jan 22, (Agencies): Sheikh Saud Nasser Al-Saud Al-Sabah has passed away, the Amiri Diwan announced on Saturday.
The body of the deceased, who passed away at the age of 68, was laid to rest at 15:30 hours local time Sunday, it added.

Director-General and Board Chairman of Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) Sheikh Mubarak Duaij Al-Ibrahim Al-Sabah expressed on Sunday deep distress at demise of Sheikh Saud Nasser Al-Saud Al-Sabah who passed away after a life marked with marathon service for Kuwait in and outside the country.
Kuwait lost, with demise of Sheikh Saud, a faithful man, of sincere words, insightful views and bold decisions. “He was a great national value, lofty personality with high-status esteem,” Sheikh Mubarak stated, eulogizing the late Sheikh Saud who led the Kuwaiti diplomacy for rallying international support against occupiers of the country in the 1990s.

The late Sheikh Saud loved his homeland, devoted his life, effort and time for sacrifices for Kuwait, Sheikh Mubarak said, remembering some of the traits and deeds of the late former diplomat, who served as ambassador in Washington in the 1990s, when he masterminded, upon guidelines of (HH the Amir) Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah a campaign to win American support for Kuwait during the blatant Iraqi occupation of the country.

Sheikh Sabah was serving as foreign minister when the country was invaded by troops of the executed Iraqi ruler, Saddam Hussein, in August 1990. Kuwait, which has been always faithful to its natives, would remember with appreciation the contribution of this man who had served in many posts in the diplomatic, media and oil sectors.

Sheikh Saud, during the campaign against the occupiers, worked round the clock until the liberation was accomplished on Feb 26, 1991. Sheikh Saud’s voice was heard, through the media, in every house in America, promoting the cause of his usurped country and plight of his people, many of whom had to be relocated or take up refuge in other countries. He had acted diligently, addressing the diverse trends of the American society. He likened the late patriotic leader to a heart, throbbing with high energy and patriotic sentiments for the cause of the dear homeland.

A member of Kuwait’s royal family, Sheikh Nasser was a leading voice calling for international help during Iraq’s occupation.

A statement Sunday from former president George H. W. Bush called Sheikh Nasser a “trusted partner” during the occupation and the US-led war in 1991 that drove Saddam’s military from Kuwait.
“Throughout that defining ordeal, he stood proudly with the United States as our coalition ejected Saddam’s forces from Kuwaiti soil and upheld international law,” said Bush’s statement from Houston. “He was truly a good man, and a joy with whom to work.”

Sheikh Nasser served as Kuwait’s envoy to Washington from 1981 to 1992. He later served in Kuwait’s government as information minister and oil minister.

In the past decade, he played an elder statesmen’s role with close ties to the White House and US officials.

He also was a strong opponent of anti-Western views by Islamic hard-liners in Kuwait. In 2003, he joined other Kuwaiti leaders in endorsing the US invasion of Iraq and called it the “beginning of the end” for Muslim extremists.

Al-Qabas newspaper said a funeral was scheduled for Sunday.