Laid to rest … legacy lives on

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‘Constitution guarantees smooth transition’

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 30, (KUNA): The body of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah was laid to its final resting place on Wednesday. Attending the funeral were His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Parliament Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim, Deputy head of National Guard Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, His Highness Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.

Earlier, His Highness the Amir received the body of his brother the late Amir who was flown to the country from the US on Wednesday. The body of the deceased was also received by Parliament Speaker Al-Ghanim and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.

The deceased was accompanied on the journey back home by his brother, Deputy head of National Guard Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Sheikh Mubarak Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. Kuwait during the era of the late Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sabah turned into a hub for crises’ stakeholders seeking to settle their issues, said the State of Kuwait Ambassador to Russia.

Kuwait, during the era of Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, became “an oasis of security and peace; a center for settling regional crises and finding solutions for conflicts that afflicted the region in recent years,” said Abdulaziz Al- Adwani in remarks to KUNA.

He was eulogizing Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah who was laid to rest shortly earlier Wednesday as the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf took the oath before Parliament as the new Amir of the Gulf state. Echoing a widely held opinion, the envoy recalled that the late Amir was a “reference for resolving thorny problems; a revered, trust worth and widely admired personality.”

Humanity that lost its dear leader would continue to remember the Amir who had relieved the needy for years in all corners of the world. Following the demise of its 15th Amir His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the State of Kuwait embraces its 16th Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah who will become the Gulf State’s ruler in line with the Constitution.

His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad accompanied the late Amir as Crown Prince throughout the past 14 years, witnessing decisive moments in Kuwait’s history and stood as firm contributor in decision-making. His Highness the late Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad nominated His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad as Crown Prince on Feb 7, 2006, and won the blessing of the National Assembly.

His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad is known to being close to the people, participating in social occasions and visiting them in their houses. His Highness Sheikh Nawaf’s service began more than 50 years ago, bringing an expertise in many domains.

Late Amir Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah appointed His Highness Sheikh Nawaf as Governor of Hawally on Feb 12, 1962, shortly after Kuwait’s independence, contributing to transforming the Governorate into a commercial and economic hive. He remained as Governor until March 19, 1978, when he was named by late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah as Interior Minister. He served as Interior Minister until Jan 26, 1988, then was named Defense Minister.

His Highness Sheikh Nawaf, months after the February 1991 liberation of Kuwait, was named Minister of Social Affairs and Labor on April 2, 1991 until Oct 17, 1992. He served as Deputy head of Kuwait National Guard between Oct 16, 1994 and July 13, 2003.

He became Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister on Oct 16, 2003 until he was named Crown Prince in 2006. His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad steered the interior ministry to cementing security and stability, applying information technology, in addition to implementing a defense strategy against external threats.

His Highness Sheikh Nawaf is a strong believer in national unity because it is the main pillar against challenges. Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa on Wednesday directed holding funeral prayers in absentia for His Highness the late Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

In line with the directives of King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa on holding funeral prayers in absentia for His Highness the late Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- Jaber Al-Sabah, head of the Sunni Endowments Council directed all Imams of mosques in the Kingdom to perform the prayers after Dawn Prayer Thursday, Bahrain News Agency (BNA) said. The Council’s head and members, and all staff of the Sunni Endowments Directorate offered their sincere condolences to the Kuwaiti government and people on the demise of His Highness the late Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad.

They prayed to Allah the Almighty to bless him with mercy, and bring solace to his family and the Kuwaiti people, the agency added. Philippines Wednesday extended condolences over the death of His Highness the late Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

The Philippine Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a press statement, voiced sadness over the demise of Sheikh Sabah, saying that Kuwait hosts 250,000 Filipinos who have contributed to promoting relations between both countries. It added that during the late Amir’s era, Kuwait has witnessed development for more than half a century since Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad became a foreign minister, then prime minister and finally Amir in 2006.

Kuwaiti Minister of Health Sheikh Dr Basel Al-Sabah Tuesday mourned the passing of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. He said in a tweet that he offers heartfelt condolences to the Kuwaiti people over the loss of the Humanitarian Leader, His Highness the Amir. The Ministry of Health also extended sincere condolences over the demise of Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad, praising him as a wise man of diplomacy who devoted his life to serving peace and stability worldwide.

Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education Dr Saud Al-Harbi voiced much commiseration over the death of Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad who steered Kuwait during trying circumstances. He said the late Amir has left behind a great legacy not only for Kuwait, but for all Arab, Muslim and world countries as well.

Speaking to KUNA, the minister said Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad’s great legacy would remain in historical memory thanks to his wise policy and farsightedness. The late Amir has steered Kuwait’s development and prosperity in various fields, rendering it into a big country in political, economic and charitable weight, he added.

He also praised Hs Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad as having been a bridgebuilder and mediator based on strategic equilibrium. Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad has turned Kuwait into a modern state where cooperation and fraternity prevail and Kuwaiti people enjoy equality in view of both rights and duties, the minister added.

Minister of State for Municipal Affairs Waleed Al-Jassem condoled with the people of Kuwait, Arab and Muslim worlds as well as the entire world over the loss of His Highness the Amir. “His Highness the Amir was a wise and fair leader who has made humanitarian contributions locally and internationally over long decades,” the minister said to KUNA.

He added that the UN title given to His Highness the late Amir as “Humanitarian Leader”, in addition to the US military title of the Legion of Merit, stemmed from his unforgettable humanitarian works. By the loss of Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad, Kuwait and the world have lost a humanitarian leader, praying to Allah Almighty to have mercy upon the late Amir and to grant the people of Kuwait more patience.

Chairman of the Kuwaiti Municipal Council Osama Al-Otaibi said Kuwait and both Arab and Muslim worlds have lost a unique leader who has made amazing international political, economic and humanitarian accomplishments. He said in a press statement that the late Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- Jaber Al-Sabah has played leading roles in the promotion of fraternity and friendship among different countries. On his part, Director-General of the Kuwaiti Public Institution for Social Security Meshal Al-Othman said the late Amir has founded the ethics of political and diplomatic work.

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