Activities of Secretary-General in Kuwait, 28-29 March

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Kuwait City early on the morning of Wednesday, 28 March, after an overnight flight from Seoul via Dubai.

The Secretary-General first met the Director of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, Abdulwahab al-Bader, and then met the Amir of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah.

The Secretary-General next met with members of the Kuwait United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Advisory Board and attended a lunch hosted by the Foreign Ministry.

At a press conference at the Ministry, the Secretary-General said Kuwait was an important contributor to the work of the United Nations and also setting an example at a time of momentous change in the Arab world.  He said he also welcomed the progress in normalizing relations between Kuwait and Iraq.

On Syria, the Secretary-General said he remained deeply concerned about the continuing conflict, the bloodshed and the displacement of thousands of people.  He noted that the Syrian Government had written to the Joint Special Envoy, Kofi Annan, accepting his six-point plan.  The Secretary-General said he shared Mr. Annan’s view that this was an important initial step that could bring an end to the violence and the bloodshed, provide aid to those suffering and create an environment conducive to a political dialogue that would fulfil the long-held legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people.  He urged President Bashar Al-Assad to put those commitments into immediate effect.  He said there was no time to waste.

The Secretary-General next met the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ahmed al-Sadoun and then met staff at the United Nations House.

Next the Secretary-General held talks with the Kuwaiti Prime Minister, Sheikh Jaber al-Mubarak al-Hamad al-Sabah.

Early the next morning, Thursday, 29 March, the Secretary-General left Kuwait and flew to Baghdad.