Kuwait committed to Non-Aligned Movement principles

Kuwait is fully committed to the principles and objectives promulgated by the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) which sprung on the international scene over half a century ago, said First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Sabah in a speech addressing the NAM conference here on Wednesday. Among issues he referred to in his speech was the Israeli-Palestinian peace prospect, noting that Israel had to take serious steps not to violate international laws and to endeavor to push forward all attempts at an equitable and just peace for the Middle East's enduring dilemma. He lamented the fact that efforts by US secretary of state John Kerry to revive negotiations between the Palestine Authority and the Israeli government came to naught. Nonetheless , the Kuwaiti foreign minister appealed to the international community to exert maximum pressure on Israel to accept the two-state solution. On the other hand, he commended the recent Palestinian national conciliation, considering it a significant development on the road to peace in the region. The Kuwaiti official also spoke at the conference about the crisis in Syria, saying it was turning bloodier and more tragic, since the number of those killed in the conflict exceeded 150,000 victims, and those becoming refugees living outside of Syria more than 2.5 million aside from some six million others displaced within the boundaries of the country. Stressing Kuwait's care for the plight of the innocent in Syria, the Kuwaiti minister recalled Kuwait's hosting in 2013 and in 2014 two international donor conferences geared up to support humanitarian relief efforts in Syria. More than USD 3.8 billion were pledged at the two conferences, he said, out of which USD 800 million were pledged by Kuwait. While he appreciated the work done by UN and Arab League representative Lakhdar Al-Ibrahimi toward seeking a solution for Syria, the Kuwaiti minister regretted the decision taken subsequently by Al-Ibrahimi to terminate his crucial and complicated mission of peace.