Syrian President Bashar Al Assad will make an official visit to Kuwait in the next two weeks, according to the official Kuwaiti news agency, KUNA.
The agency cited an official source at the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry as saying that Assad would arrive at the head of a high-level delegation and would discuss bilateral ties and issues of mutual concern with Kuwaiti Emir Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah.
“The two-day visit comes within the framework of enhancing bilateral relations…and developing them in all aspects, particularly in the political and economic fields,” the agency said, citing the official source.
The source said that Assad would meet the crown prince and Prime Minister Saad Al Abdulla Al Sabah, as well as a number of senior officials, to discuss regional developments and the ongoing Israeli attacks on Palestinians.
“Despite the fact that the Syrian president’s visit to Kuwait was scheduled a long time ago, the Kuwaiti confirmation of the visit comes one day after the announcement of a visit to be made to Baghdad during the next few days by the Syrian Premier Mustafa Miro, at the invitation of Iraqi Vice President Taha Yasin Ramadhan,” the Lebanese daily Al Safir said, citing an official Syrian source.
President Assad was expected to visit Kuwait last month, but the visit was postponed for unspecified reasons.
Sources attributed the delay to Kuwaiti resentment of Syria’s refusal to accept the US-UK proposal for “smart sanctions” against Iraq, and its call to end the embargo on the Iraqi people.
The Kuwaiti source praised the Syrian stance during the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait and its ongoing support for Kuwait’s issues, particularly the Kuwaiti POWs Kuwait says held in Iraq, according to KUNA.
This will be the first visit to Kuwait for Assad since becoming president in July 2000, succeeding his late father Hafez Al Assad – Albawaba.com
