Kuwait pushes for safer skies, stronger security

DOHA, Oct 26 : Chairman of Kuwait’s Public Authority for Civil Aviation Sheikh Hamoud Mubarak Al-Sabah took part on Monday in the eighth meeting of Directors General of Civil Aviation of the Middle East Region (DGCA- 8), held in Doha through October 28. In his address, Sheikh Hamoud stressed Kuwait’s commitment to strengthening coordination and cooperation among Middle Eastern countries, unifying efforts and supporting collective decisions to enhance civil aviation security and safety and address shared challenges and threats. He reiterated Kuwait’s condemnation of Houthi militia attacks against Saudi Arabia, affirming Kuwait’s full solidarity with the kingdom and readiness to mobilize its capabilities and provide all possible support to help it address the consequences of the attacks, in light of the strong fraternal ties between the two countries and their shared commitment to regional security and stability.

He stressed that civil aviation security and safety were top priorities and a shared responsibility among regional states amid growing challenges facing the aviation sector. These challenges, he said, required enhanced preparedness, improved security and safety systems, information and expertise sharing, and stronger coordination and cooperation. Sheikh Hamoud expressed Kuwait’s appreciation to Qatar for hosting and organizing the meeting, and thanked the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for its continued efforts to promote coordination and cooperation among countries in the region and advance the development of civil aviation. He concluded by underscoring the importance of such meetings in aligning visions, decisions and positions on common issues and challenges, thereby serving the interests of the civil aviation sector and improving safety, security and operational efficiency.

Meanwhile, a quadrilateral meeting between Iran and the three countries party to the Makkah Agreement, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan, began on Monday to discuss ways to enhance regional security and stability. Participants include Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Mohsen Rezaei, Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Turkiye’s Intelligence Chief Ibrahim Kalin. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said during his weekly press briefing that the meeting could pave the way for further efforts to achieve regional security through regional cooperation. Meanwhile, Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister for Public Diplomacy Raed Qarmali said on X that the meeting would discuss efforts to de-escalate tensions among parties to the current crisis and encourage dialogue and diplomatic solutions. Saudi Foreign Ministry said that Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and representatives of the countries party to the Makkah Mutual Defense Agreement were visiting Tehran as part of ongoing efforts to deescalate the current crisis, encourage dialogue and diplomatic solutions.

In a statement on Monday, the ministry said the visit to meet senior Iranian officials was an extension of Saudi Arabia’s role in promoting regional and international dialogue and peace. The Kingdom hopes all parties to the crisis will engage positively and pragmatically with the outcomes of the visit and the ongoing efforts by Qatar and Pakistan, contributing to a resolution through dialogue and diplomacy, the statement added. It stressed the importance of opening negotiation channels to prevent a renewed military escalation in the region and pave the way for an agreement that would end the crisis and achieve security and peace regionally and globally

(KUNA)