Sami Al-Hamad, Assistant Foreign Minister for Economic Affairs, with Austrian Ambassador to Kuwait Ulrich Frank during the cake-cutting ceremony

“We hope to see active participation from the Austrian side in achieving the Kuwait 2035 vision, given its expertise and capabilities, which can support the sustainable development efforts of Kuwait,” he added. Meanwhile, Austrian Ambassador to Kuwait Ulrich Frank confirmed that relations between Austria and Kuwait are distinguished and based on mutual respect and growing cooperation. He said the two countries have similar economic and humanitarian visions, and that Austria looks forward to being a supportive partner in the Kuwait 2035 vision.

“We are both relatively small countries, but we are rich in human and economic resources. “Most importantly, we are two peaceful countries that look towards the future with confidence,” he asserted. He then talked about the significance of the National Neutrality Day, which falls on Oct 26 each year, as it is a crucial milestone in Austrian history, considering it paved the way for the full independence of the country after World War II. He stressed that free societies are required today more than ever to confront misinformation, fake news and hate speech, so as not to fall victim to any form of tyranny. On the tragic situation in the Middle East, he stated that the images coming from Gaza are “shocking and leave us speechless.” He underscored the need to always remember what started the cycle of violence, stressing that civilians should not pay the price for terrorism. He pointed out that “lasting peace will be achieved only through a ceasefire and a return to political solutions. The negotiated two-state solution remains the only way to end the decades-long conflict, so that Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in security and peace.”