On the second day of his official visit to Kuwait the Prime Minister Janez Janša, accompanied by a large government and business delegation, was received by the Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The PM and his host discussed cooperation between the European Union and the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, and the situation in the region. They also focused on bilateral economic relations between Slovenia and Kuwait.
PHOTO: BOBO
After the meeting the PM said that the Kuwaiti Emir presented a very full assessment on neighbouring Iraq. "We share similar views on the future development of the situation. It is in our common interest that the Iraqis will be able to take care of their own security themselves and that the situation stabilises, as this will benefit the Iraqi citizens the most and also contribute to the peace and stability of the region," said Mr Janša.
With regard to cooperation with the EU, Kuwait is the most open Gulf state, and it plays a very constructive role, thus promoting cooperation. Kuwait has taken a constructive stand towards Iran's nuclear programme, which was also an important topic of the talks, particularly with regard to Slovenia's presidency of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). "Kuwait is worried about the situation, as it is also a neighbouring country. It is not only concerned about the abuse of nuclear energy, but also about the potential impact on the environment if the use of nuclear energy for producing electical energy does not comply with international standards," stressed the PM.
The Emir and the PM also discussed economic cooperation. According to Mr Janša, Kuwait is interested in cooperating with Slovenian companies and institutions in large-scale infrastructural projects. In the next fifteen years Kuwait will invest ten billion US dollars in building traffic infrastructure, hospitals and universities.
FOTO: BOBO
PM Janša discussed similar issues with the Acting Speaker of National Assembly of Kuwait, Dr Mohammad Al-Basiri. Kuwait has been a parliamentary democracy since 1961 and serves as an example of good parliamentary practice in the region. Inter-parliamentary cooperation between Slovenia and Kuwait has developed to a certain extent, as there was an organisation of friendship for relations with Slovenia in the previous Kuwaiti National Assembly. "My host and I agreed that we will suggest reinstating those groups in both parliaments and thus aim to strenghten relations between them," said the PM.
FOTO: BOBO
Today Mr Janez Janša opened a Slovenian-Kuwaiti business conference at the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry, where sixty Slovenian businessmen representing forty companies will participate. The event is an opportunity for Slovenian and Kuwaiti businessmen to meet. The Chairman of the Chamber, Ali Mohammed Thunayan Al-Ghanim, has expressed willingness to help establish and encourage concrete relations and to organise a similar event in Slovenia in the near future.
