Viewpoint from Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah

Viewpoint: Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah

I have repeatedly outlined the difficulties that we face and the magnitude of the challenges that hinder our country’s progress. These challenges hinder our continuing efforts to protect our country and ensure its stability. At the same time, we are equally mindful of preserving the happiness and dignity of our citizens and ensuring a prosperous future for them and for the next generations to come.

It is a matter of concern that these challenges have escalated and increased, particularly when terrorism, which seeks to ignite the fire of strife within our community and violate our national unity, has reached our safe and peaceful country.

I call on my fellow citizens to carry out their duty; national unity is the most important blessing to this country and its people. It acts like a fortified wall that protects our society, and we must each and every one of us work to uphold, support and maintain our national unity.

Furthermore, it is our collective duty to bear the responsibility for our national unity during the course of the difficult and challenging times being experienced elsewhere in the region.

We, as a nation, have demonstrated time and again our willingness to assist in dealing with these issues facing our wider region, both in the Arab but also Islamic context. Indeed we work with regional and international bodies and partners who are equally committed to our moderate approach, sharing our goals of securing a peaceful future for all humanity, where all people can continue to prosper and grow.

It is time to move to a new phase of cooperation between the GCC countries, a phase that rises to the challenges that confront us at all levels, and one that embodies the goal of unity amongst brothers.

In turn, this will strengthen the cohesion needed to achieve comprehensive development for all citizens of our fellow GCC countries, upholding and preserving their sovereignty, security and stability.

I recall with appreciation and gratitude the historic role played by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in supporting the rights of Kuwaitis, and emphasise the acclaimed role King Salman played in promoting the security and safety of all countries in the GCC to the same end of peace and prosperity.

There is no doubt that sustainable development is our ultimate goal in the present and the future. It is the permanent challenge that in many senses dictates the fate of our country and society.

At the same time, the priority of security, economic and financial prosperity, and confronting the scourge of corruption does not mean we forget other ills that our nation suffers or the chronic diseases that impair our society. This calls for establishing studied programmes and long-term scientific plans to treat and eliminate such ailments that pose future challenges to our social order.

On top of that comes the need to develop and nurture our young people, to listen to them, to share with them, to teach them about moderation, to immunise them against extremism and radical thoughts, and to educate them to accept the differences and opinions of others, as well as promote in them a spirit of cooperation and teamwork.

We must open the doors of the future to young people and find satisfying and meaningful occupations for the tens and thousands of them who are entering the labour market every year.

In addition, another priority is the development and improvement of public services such as health, housing, infrastructure, and most importantly of all, the need to review the curricula and teaching methods in our schools. We must look to modernise them so that they keep pace with the developments taking place across the world.

We strongly believe that Kuwait, which has overcome all kinds of challenges, can along with its loyal people, overcome all future challenges and risks.