Billions For SDGs: Kuwait PM – Premier Delivers UN Speech

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NEW YORK, Sept 29, (Agencies): Representative of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al- Hamad Al-Sabah announced that Kuwait would contribute billions of dollars to honor the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Kuwait will continue its contributions to development out of its belief in the importance of the UN Charter and in appreciation of the honoring of His Highness the Amir as a “Humanitarian Leader,” thus culminating the Gulf state’s leading support to development and humanitarian acts, His Highness the Prime Minister said in a speech before the 70th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) Tuesday. He said Kuwait was the world leader in terms of providing humanitarian aid compared to its Gross National Income in 2014.

Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), said His Highness the Prime Minister, has been active in its support to development projects in developing countries regardless of their location, faith or ethnicity.

KFAED contributed over $18 billion to development projects in more than 100 countries since its establishment in 1961. The Fund, he added, would contribute $15 billion for the next 15 years in order to honor the SDGs. His Highness the Prime Minister commended the adoption of the 17-goal SDGs, which aimed at eradicating poverty and hunger, and addressed shortcomings of previous development plans, as well as making sure human beings were equal in the right of education and health care. He underlined that there would not be sustainable development without security. His Highness the Amir attended few days ago the sustainable development summit and called for exploring innovative mechanisms to push forward development beyond 2015.

Development
He said Kuwait’s development assistance on the past few years amounted to 2. 1 percent of its GDP. Leaders gathering at the UN have adopted the SDGs, which also aimed at acknowledging human rights of all people, achieve gender equality and empower women and girls. His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al- Hamad Al-Sabah said Yemen is facing serious challenges due to intransigence of Houthi militias and its insistence on breaking its pledges, thus threatening security and stability of region.

Speaking before the General Assembly, His Highness the Prime Minister said that due to Houthi behavior in Yemen, action was required to ensure the maintenance of stability, therefore, the Saudi-led coalition came into light and military operations were directed against the Houthi militias to deter them. Such military action was needed to restore stability of Yemen as well as the security of “our countries and region,” he added.

At the humanitarian level, His Highness the Prime Minister reaffirmed Kuwait’s commitments towards the Yemeni people in need, and reiterated His Highness the Amir’s generous contribution of $100 million of humanitarian aid. The Saudi-led coalition was launched back in March on response to an appeal by Yemeni President Abd Rabbo Mansur Hadi to face the Houthis’ coup against legitimacy. It is backed by GCC countries, France, US, Britain and other countries in restore stability in the country and address threats against the region.

His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al- Hamad Al-Sabah expressed condolences to Saudi Arabia over the stampede incident that took place during the Hajj season last week. Addressing the General Assembly 70th session, His Highness the Prime Minister expressed deepest sorrow for those who died in the incident, wishing speedy recovery for the injured, and security and safety for Saudi Arabia and its people. With gratitude and appreciation, His Highness the Prime Minister reaffirmed the strenuous efforts in addressing the needs of Hajj pilgrims, wishing persistent prosperity for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Around 769 pilgrims died in the stampede in Mina, Makkah and over 800 were injured while performing rituals last Thursday.

Saudi Arabia sent out over four thousand civil defense personnel to the scene in order to rescue and lessen the damage. His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al- Hamad Al-Sabah called on Libyan parties to positively cooperate with UN special envoy’s efforts towards forming a government of national unity. His Highness the Prime Minister, addressing the 70th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), said Kuwait was following with great interest the agreement announced by Bernandino Leon, UN Secretary General’s special envoy to Libya, to end fighting and form the national unity government. He hoped the Libyan parties deal positively with Leon’s initiatives

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