Permanent Mission of the State of Kuwait to the United Nations
وفد دولة الكويت الدائم لدى اﻷمم المتحدة
First. Introduction
* Since its admission to the United Nations on 14 May 1963, the State of Kuwait has been pursuing a peaceful and balanced policy in its relations with others, based on the principles and objectives of the United Nations Charter. Kuwait proceeds from its firm conviction and belief in the importance of not resorting to the use or threat of force to settle disputes, but rather resorting to dialogue to foster the values of tolerance and co-existence between the different civilizations, cultures and religions.
* Kuwait maintains diplomatic and friendly relations with different countries and peoples of the world. These relations are based on the principles of mutual respect, non-interference in the internal affairs of other states, respecting sovereignty and common interests, as well as supporting various international mechanisms to further economic, social, cultural and intellectual cooperation between states and peoples.
* The policy of the State of Kuwait is respected by the International community and international and regional organizations. This was clearly manifested in 1990, when the whole world stood by and supported Kuwait when it was occupied, and the Security Council adopted historic resolutions that reinforced the legitimacy, credibility, authority and ability of the Security Council to maintain international peace and security while confronting serious violations of the United Nations Charter and international law. Furthermore, the concept of collective security was best exemplified in its optimal form during the operation to liberate Kuwait.
* Whether traditional or emerging, global challenges, risks and threats facing the international community cannot be confronted by an individual country or a group of countries alone. These challenges necessitate uniting the efforts of all Member States, rich and poor, big and small, working under the umbrella of the United Nations, the only international mechanism that enjoys neutrality, independence, credibility and legitimacy.
* Security and development are closely interlinked and inseparable, as neither can be achieved without the presence of the other, and both cannot be accomplished together without respect for human rights and the rule of law. It is therefore imperative to provide guidance to direct international programmes and policies, devise appropriate plans and strengthen the capabilities of the developing countries, to enable them to meet their developmental and security needs, according to their own national priorities and specificities, free of intervention in their internal affairs while paying more attention to address the root causes of the numerous global challenges and risks, most of which are caused by economic, social problems and hardships.
Second: Kuwait’s relation with the United Nations.
* Kuwait’s relations with international organizations started years before it gained its political independence in 1961, through its participation and membership in a number of key international organizations, such as: the World Health Organization, International Labor Organization and the Universal Postal Union.
* After attaining membership to the United Nations in 1963, the State of Kuwait participated effectively in the various activities and meetings of the organization and its agencies, it supported the right of peoples to self-determination and decolonization in all its forms and manifestations. The State of Kuwait also joined the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries during that crucial historical period in which numerous countries in Asia and Africa gained their political independence and attained membership to the United Nations.
* The State of Kuwait was active in seeking membership in the various key United Nations organs and their committees, such as: the Security Council (1978-1979); the Economic and Social Council (1967-1969), (1992-1994) and (2013-2015); and the Human Rights Council (2011-2014), as well as membership in a large number of international committees and other organs, wherein it positively contributed to the activities of these organs, supported all the endeavours aiming at the promotion of cooperation and coordination of international efforts, and has adhered to implementing the decisions of these organs.
* Kuwait hosts the United Nations House, which was inaugurated by the Secretary- General, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon in 2009, and that houses the offices and representations of a number of specialized UN agencies and other international organizations, such as: the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), International Organization for Migration (IOM), International Labor Organization (ILO) and the World Bank (WB). These organizations enjoy all the facilities and the logistical support that the Government of Kuwait provides, with a view to enable the organizations to perform their functions and carry out their responsibilities in a safe and appropriate environment. Within the framework of Kuwait’s support and backing to the United Nations, activities in the field of maintaining international peace and security, Kuwait also hosts the headquarters and offices of international political missions in the region: the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). The offices of both Missions receive all the needed facilities and enjoy a distinguished relation with the relevant official authorities of the country.
* The State of Kuwait is committed to fulfilling all of its financial obligations towards the regular budget of the United Nations, the budgets of peacekeeping operations, and paying its mandatory assessed contributions in full and on time. Kuwait also supports the efforts and endeavours to reform and enhance the performance of the United Nations bodies, and to promote the principle of accountability, in order to make them more effective, efficient and transparent in carrying out their responsibilities and increase their capability to confront global challenges.
Third: Kuwait’s role in the field of development.
* The State of Kuwait has blazed for itself a path to development marked by distinction, by achieving almost all of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) before their scheduled date of 2015. This is in addition to its commitment to implement and support all of the Post-2015 development plans, to attain sustainable development in its three dimensions (economic, social and environmental).
* Within the framework of Kuwait’s support for international and regional endeavours and efforts to achieve the goals and outcomes of international conferences related to sustainable development, it hosted a number of high-level, economic, developmental and humanitarian conferences to discuss the means of confronting emerging challenges and promote cooperation and international partnerships, proceeding from its belief in its responsibilities in this field. Most prominent of these conferences were: The 3rd Arab-African Summit, The 1st Asia Cooperation Dialogue Summit and The Arab Economic and Social Development Summit.
* The State of Kuwait is considered among the group of high income developing countries, and thus has, since its independence in 1961, striven to shoulder its international and regional responsibilities by establishing the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development. The fund works to assist and support developing and least developed countries (LDC’s) to achieve development in its various dimensions.
* The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development is the first development institution in the world, established by a developing country, with its main activity being to finance projects by providing loans, grants and technical assistance to boost the ability of developing and least developed countries to achieve their development goals.
* The total value of loans provided by the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, until the end of 2014, exceeded $17.9 billion, and has benefitted 104 countries all over the world. Also, the State of Kuwait contributes to the funding of a number of regional and international institutions and development funds, such as: the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, Islamic Development Bank, and the OPEC Fund for International Development. The Kuwait Arab Economic Development Fund will continue its functions in providing financial and technical assistance to developing countries, in the context of financing programs and projects in the amount of $15 billion to meet the requirements of sustainable development.
* The total value of Official Development Assistance (ODA) provided by the State of Kuwait to developing and least developed countries in the past few years was equal to 1.32% of its Gross Domestic Product, thus surpassing the percentage agreed upon internationally for ODA, which is 0.07%.
* Kuwait is a major exporting country of petroleum and petroleum byproducts. Through its membership in OPEC, Kuwait follows a responsible oil policy that observes the interests of both the producing and the consuming countries alike, and takes into consideration the stability of the world markets to this strategic commodity. This occurs together with improving the quality of petroleum products in line with global specifications that make its commitment to environmental stability a matter of particular importance.
Fourth: Kuwait’s Role in the Humanitarian Field
* Kuwait’s humanitarian role is one of the main pillars of Kuwaiti diplomacy, emanating from its belief in the importance of supporting the peoples and countries facing harsh conditions, as a consequence of natural or man-made disasters, such as wars and armed conflicts.
* Kuwait is strengthening its international and regional partnerships at the humanitarian level, through its continued support to a large number of organizations and international agencies specializing in the provision of humanitarian aid, foremost among which is the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
* The benevolence of the State of Kuwait and its humanitarian positions at the global level culminated in the state being awarded many humanitarian achievements, foremost among which are:
- The United Nations Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF), managed by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
- The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
- Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
- The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
- United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women)
The role of the charitable civil associations and foundations in the State of Kuwait is considered pioneering and complementary to what the State does at the official level. This popular role is highly appreciated, in light of its continued provision of assistance to all those in need anywhere in the world, without discrimination, and regardless of religion, ethnicity or nationality.
Fifth: Our Priorities in the Security Council
* Kuwait pursues a balanced and reasonable policy towards issues on the agenda of the Security Council, and it shall work to invest in its close relations with states members of the United Nations, particularly countries of the Middle East region, with the aim of strengthening the security and stability of that region in tune with the principles and objectives of the Charter of the United Nations and international law.
* Kuwait will work on representing all the political and regional groups to which it belongs, conveying their concerns and expressing their aspirations, in a manner that would contribute to achieving security and stability regionally and globally. Kuwait will follow up with the implementation of Security Council resolutions related to conflicts in the region, and contribute to the efforts of taking the necessary measures to put them into practice.
* Kuwait will work on promoting the role of the Security Council in conflict prevention by investing the capabilities of the United Nations in the field of preventive diplomacy, as well as dealing with all crises that threaten international peace and security in an orderly, prompt and efficient manner.
* Kuwait will support and encourage mediation efforts and endeavours to solve conflicts by peaceful means, and assist in building national and regional capabilities, with a view to achieving peace, stability and development in areas prone to the outbreak of conflicts.
* Kuwait will work on activating the role of the Security Council, and enhance its ways and methods of work by bringing more transparency and clarity to its working methods to become more capable and effective in facing up to the accelerated challenges the international community faces in order to overcome them.
* Kuwait will promote and coordinate international response to humanitarian crises, including natural disasters, and disasters resulting from wars and conflicts, such as issues involving refugees and internally displaced people while also protecting civilian populations in conflict zones.
* Kuwait will support United Nations efforts in combating terrorism and extremism, in all their forms and manifestations, from whatever source, and drain their funding sources by reaffirming the values of tolerance and co-existence among peoples and nations through the consolidation and promotion of dialogue between cultures and nations. This will be done while rejecting destructive ideas that call for violence and hatred, and emphasizing that the idea of tolerance and openness amongst nations is first and foremost, a humanitarian necessity.
* Kuwait will support United Nations efforts in the field of peacekeeping and peacebuilding, as well as promote measures that bring more transparency to the work of the United Nations in this field, while reiterating the importance of exerting further efforts aimed at building the capacities of states in post-conflict periods.
* Kuwait will actively work on promoting the participation of small states in the work of the United Nations and its various bodies, in different activities, including those related to the maintenance of international peace and security.