KUWAIT CITY, Oct 26: The Director of the International Organizations Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mansour Al-Otaibi ensured that Kuwait will maintain its supportive stand towards the United Nations (UN) and its programs, adding that that Kuwait, after joining the UN in 1963, has been a staunch supporter of the UN’s activities.
On the occasion of United Nations Day organized by the coordinator of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kuwait Dr Salah Burjini in the presence of a large number of Arab ambassadors and other invitees on Sunday, Al-Otaibi said the UN, in the last 64 years, has undertaken continuous efforts in fields such as politics, economics and education and still works tirelessly to promote peace and national security while boosting economic and social cooperation.

He also mentioned the exemplary role of the UN in the Liberation War of 1990.
On his part, coordinator of the UNDP in Kuwait Dr. Salah Burjini highlighted that Kuwait has maintained a remarkable position among countries of the developed world in spite of the recent economic crunch.
He added the Human Development Report 2009, issued on Oct 5, showed that Kuwait witnessed a rise to the 31st place among countries in human development, placing it in the first position among Arab countries.
Burjini thanked Kuwait for its support towards building offices for all the UN branches, and expressed gratitude towards the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for easing all transactions of the body.  He added that the Higher Council for Planning and Development in Kuwait signed a five-year cooperation agreement with the UNDP for national programs between 2009 and 2013, related to environmental and economic development by implementing the recommendations of the UN.

He also spoke about the UN’s suggestions for issues such as the role of the private sector, democracy and gender equality.
Burjini read this year’s address by the General Secretary to the world’s citizens. He explained that the body provides humanitarian assistance to remote locations, provides vaccinations to about 40 percent of the world’s children, feeds over 100,000 million people and provides aid to over 30 million refugees, mainly women and children.
Burjini added that peace keeping forces have reached 115,000 soldiers this year. He noted that the UN provided electoral support to 50 countries last year and focused on easing economic instability in the world.

By Shawki Mahmoud
Special to the Arab Times