Kuwait marks Amir’s 14-year rule

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KUWAIT CITY, Jan 28, (Agencies): His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah attended a flag hoisting ceremony at Bayan Palace on Tuesday. His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al- Sabah and senior state officials attended the event. His Highness the Amir was given a 21-Gun Salute and warmly welcomed by Army, Police and National Guard personnel.

Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad then hoisted the flag and the National Anthem was played. Major Fahad Humoud Al-Shemari then recited a poem marking the occasion.

His Highness the Amir received His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al- Sabah and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah at Bayan Palace. Kuwait celebrates the 14-year anniversary of the ascendency of His Highness the Amir on Wednesday as he continues his leadership of this nation and its people.

It all started when His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad was sworn in before Parliament as the 15th Amir and ruler of Kuwait amid huge support from the public and local officials.

In His Highness the Amir’s speech to the nation last November, he stressed to his people and his nation his theme on stability, when said “I call upon my fellow citizens to be aware of interests of our dear nation, and protection of its security and stability, stand united against whoever tries to undermine national unity, stay away from assemblies that might deviate from their objectives and lead to chaos.”

The fourth child of late Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, his wisdom and intelligence stems from a decades-long commitment to serving in the social, political and diplomatic spheres following extensive travel and tutelage at Al-Mubarakiya School; Kuwait’s first formal educational establishment named after the late ruler, Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah. His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad’s initial foray into public office came in 1954, when he was appointed member of the supreme executive committee tasked with the role of the regulation of government interests and bodies.

A year later, he was handed the role of director of the department of social and labor affairs, where he was instrumental in initiating several policies, namely regulating the relationship between employer and employee. Upon the expansion of his role to include director of the publications department in 1957, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad demonstrated a commitment to reviving old books and manuscripts and tasked a committee with writing the first book detailing the history of Kuwait.

Kuwaiti journalism, regarded as one of the most transparent in the Middle East, continues to thrive thanks to His Highness the Amir, who was behind the publications’ law, which remains in use until this day, albeit some minor amendments. As Kuwait declared its independence in 1961, he was appointed member of the Kuwaiti Constitution’s founding council. This was followed by his appointment in the first official Cabinet, where he assumed the role of minister of guidance in 1962. Only one year later, he began a journey as minister of foreign affairs, where he remained the top man responsible for delivering Kuwait’s diplomacy to the world for 40 years.

On May 11, 1963, during the first year of Sheikh Sabah’s time in office as minister, Kuwait became a member of the United Nations. Diplomatically, he was involved in Kuwait-hosted talks in 1966 between warring parties in Yemen, attended by representatives from Egypt and Saudi Arabia aimed at putting an end to the Yemeni civil war. When the relationship deteriorated between South and North Yemen, with both involved in border clashes, Sheikh Sabah visited the two countries (at the time) helping forge a peace agreement in 1972. He also successfully mediated an agreement of diplomatic principles between Oman and South Yemen, which was followed by a joint announcement of the resumption of diplomatic relations from Kuwait in 1984.

Throughout his tenure, the then minister assumed a balanced foreign policy that enabled Kuwait to overcome some difficult periods such as the Iraq-Iran War of 1980 and its repercussions on the internal and external security and stability of his country. He also forged a strong relationship with countries around the world, particularly the five permanent member nations of the United Nations Security Council. These strong ties culminated in the emergence of a 35-nation coalition that helped liberate Kuwait from invasion by Iraq in 1991 as a result of a Security Council resolution that paved the way for a military offensive against the occupying forces.

Alongside his role as foreign minister, His Highness Sheikh Sabah was handed numerous roles due to his wise policies and diplomatic proficiency, namely acting information minister (1971-1975), deputy prime minister (1978), acting information minister (1982), deputy prime minister (1985-1992) and first deputy prime minister and foreign minister (1992).

In 2001, he was tasked with forming the Kuwaiti Cabinet in the place of the then Crown Prince and Prime Minister the late Amir Sheikh Saad Al- Abdallah Al-Sabah. Two years later, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad became prime minister upon Amiri decree. It is during his time as prime minister that his ability to guide domestic policy came to light. The prime minister adopted a comprehensive development-based vision focused particularly on economic growth through support of the private sector and entrepreneurism amongst the youth. On the economic spectrum, a tour in Asia, including China, Japan, South Korea and Singapore, at the head of a business delegation in 2004 resulted in the joint signature of 10 mega deals and projects. He remained premier until 2006 when a Cabinet session passed a motion appointing him Amir of Kuwait.

Over the 13 years under his reign, Kuwait has witnessed huge development concentrated on a number of mega projects like Sabah Al-Ahmad Marine City – the first fully-developed by the private sector. His Highness the Amir made comments urging nationals to stand together in the face of challenges and threats, namely the June 2015 terrorist attack on Al-Sadeq Mosque, in which 26 people were martyred and resulted in the injury of 200 more.

On the occasion of the 14th anniversary of His Highness the Amir’s assumption of office, His Highness the Amir received congratulatory messages from several dignitaries and top leaders of the country on Tuesday, Jan 28.

They praised the prominent achievements of His Highness the Amir on all levels, and wished him long and healthy life. They also wished for further development of Kuwait under the wise leadership of His Highness the Amir.

His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah was one among the dignitaries who sent a cable to His Highness the Amir to congratulate him on the occasion.

In response, His Highness the Amir sent a cable to His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al- Ahmad, thanking him for his kind feelings and praises, and wishing him too a long and healthy life, and further development for Kuwait and its people.

The National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim also sent a congratulatory cable to His Highness the Amir on the occasion, hailing his great achievements in the humanitarian field and his efforts to protect international peace and security – efforts that have been deeply admired by the Arab World and the international community. He highlighted the political, economic and social developments in Kuwait under the wise leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad.

His Highness the Amir responded by sending a cable to Speaker Al-Ghanim, thanking him and all the MPs for their kind feelings. He highlighted that the development witnessed in various sectors of Kuwait is due to the hard work and determination of the people of Kuwait to achieve success on all levels.

His Highness the Amir also received a congratulatory cable from His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al- Mubarak Al-Sabah on the occasion. Besides praising the distinguished achievements of His Highness the Amir in all aspects, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled hailed his wise leadership and neutral diplomatic relations with all countries. In response, His Highness the Amir thanked him for his kind feelings, and wished him a long and healthy life.

His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah sent a congratulatory cable to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- Ahmad on Tuesday, praising the great achievements Kuwait witnessed under the wise leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad.

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