Kuwaiti, Arab MPs urge combining forces to combat terrorism

Members of the Kuwaiti National Assembly and Arab Parliament on Saturday called for concerted efforts by the Arab countries and the international community to stem the tide of extremism and terrorism in the region.
"The Arab Parliament can play a role in finding solution to this challenge and other problems in the region," Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Mubarak Al-Khurainej said in a statement to KUNA on the sidelines of the Arab Parliament session.
"The GCC states and Arab and other countries have to join forces to prevent any act that could destabilize the region," he said, noting that the region is undergoing a challenging situation.
Al-Khurainej welcomed the outcome of the Arab Parliament session, notably the uncontested election of Ahmad bin Mohammad Al-Jarwan, of the UAE, as speaker of the parliament, and Mohammad Al-Jabri, of Kuwait, as deputy speaker for the coming session of the parliament.
He said the election of Al-Jabri shows the high status of Kuwait among the Arab countries, voicing hope that the Kuwaiti MP will be able to build on the achievements of his predecessors.
On his part, Al-Jabri said the Arab countries witness "serious developments" which require urgent solutions and concerted efforts.
He thanked the members of the Arab Parliament for the trust placed in him, voicing hope for contributing to the realization of the aspirations of the Arab peoples.
Al-Jabri spoke highly of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for his constant support to the Arab joint action.
Meanwhile, Dr. Khalil Abdullah, Kuwaiti and Arab MP, said the election of Al-Jabri is a manifestation of the confidence of the Arab countries in Kuwait and its democratic experiment.
He heralded the elections as a beginning of a new stage in the history of the Arab Parliament in its efforts to become a genuine representative of the Arab peoples and realize their aspirations.
Faisal Al-Kandari, another Kuwaiti and Arab MP, said the Arab Parliament needs "to speak in one voice and adopt a firm stance on the current events in our region." Secretary General of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union (AIPU) Nour Eddine Bouchkouj commended as "active and distinguished" the participation of the Kuwaiti MPs in the meetings of the Arab Parliament.
"The Kuwaiti MPs played a major role in the making of all decisions at the just-ended session; their efforts culminated in the election of Al-Jabri as deputy speaker of the Arab parliament," he pointed out.
Bouchkouj lauded the atmospheres of democracy and freedoms in Kuwait, noting that the Al-Jabri's election is "a kind of recognition of Kuwait contributions to the democratization of the Arab homeland." He extolled the role of His Highness the Amir in bringing the viewpoints of the Arab countries closer to each other as well as his great humanitarian role in the region and beyond.