Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah: Viewpoint

Viewpoint: Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah

The bitter reality of the region, its dangerous dimensions and consequences, and the developments taking place in the region call upon us to realise the current situation and circumstances, and be cautious and ready to confront them in order to protect the safety and security of our country. This will not be achieved but through cohesion and an adherence to our national unity. We assure Kuwaitis that sticking to our Gulf community and keeping the privileges that we have achieved within the framework of the GCC is the security that will enable us to face such dangers and challenges.

Our homeland is entrusted to us all, and this requires everyone to be faithful and loyal, and to work diligently, earnestly and sincerely to advance the country and push its development process towards its desired goals.

Our people should be proud of the elite position of Kuwait within the international community, with its achievements in humanitarian, relief and community work, including its active participation in the efforts that are aimed towards keeping international peace and security, and spreading the culture of both tolerance and peace.

We have to adhere to our national achievements, our firm democratic approach, which we have chosen and which is inherited by the people of Kuwait, and to our comprehensive and complementary constitution, which we always affirm and protect. We will not allow its prejudice, as it is the real guarantee of the stability of our system, the main pillar of the security of our country and a source of pride of our just and fair judicial system.

I avail this opportunity to reassure the importance of fruitful and constructive cooperation between the legislative and the executive powers to strengthen the state of institutions and rule of law, continuing the desired course of development and reform, completing the consideration of the submitted draft laws, implementing economic programmes aimed at the diversification of national sources of income, creating productive job opportunities for young people to participate in pushing forward the wheel of development, and enhancing our state’s non-oil revenues.

I call on all of those in charge of the media – namely text, video and audio – to play their role consciously and responsibly. We look forward to the time when our media will be the light of civilisation, a tool to advance construction and development efforts, and a platform for responsible freedom and informed public opinion.

I have repeatedly stressed, on several occasions, that our youth are the true wealth of the nation – they have both our attention and the attention of the government, as they are the most precious part of our wealth and the best investment.

Since the first National Youth Conference in 2013 under the slogan “Kuwait Listens”, the government has studied the important recommendations issued by it, accelerated their implementation and taken measures to enable our youth to develop their capabilities and skills, address their issues, and overcome the obstacles that they face.

As a follow-up to these efforts, Al Diwan Al Amiri recently launched the national youth project under the title “Kuwait is Proud”, which aims to honour and nurture this promising generation, and enable them to contribute to the national responsibility of participating in the development process to build the present and future Kuwait.

We have also announced the initiative of establishing the National Centre for Innovation, through which we will develop the ideas and innovations of young people, and turn them into projects of economic feasibility for their benefit and the benefit of the country. You young people, as I have said on more than one occasion, are the source of hope.