During his speech at the forum delivered earlier in the day, he called for increased coordination and the exchange of expertise between the G8 (Group of Eight) nations and the Middle East states regarding social security.
Speaking at the sixth Forum for the Future, which concluded in Marrakesh yesterday evening, Sheikh Dr. Mohammad said that the world is currently facing international challenges and dangers that threaten its stability and security due directly to climate change.
This could lead to an increase in the prices of food and major products, in addition to security challenges like terrorism, the spread of weapons of mass destruction, and human rights violations, he warned.
The Deputy PM said that since its establishment in 1961, Kuwait has provided aid to developing countries on numerous occasions, revealing that it had provided support to more than 100 countries with a total of over $ 14 billion, equivalent to 1.31 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This actually exceeds the percentage agreed on internationally for this purpose by more than 0.61 percent, he added.
Upon the initiative of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Kuwait established the Decent Life Fund with a capital of $ 100 million to assist developing countries to deal with increasing food prices and to improve their agriculture sectors, he noted.
Moreover, the Gulf state has allocated $ 300 million to combat poverty in Africa through the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), Sheikh Mohammad said.
He also emphasized that Kuwait has given priority to reform in several fields, such as education, health, civil liberties and women’s rights, due to its strong belief in the importance of the rule of law and order.
Sheikh Dr. Mohammad also revealed that Kuwait ranks first in human development terms among Arab states, according to the United Nations Development Program’s (UNDP) Regional Bureau for Arab States, as well as ranking first in the Middle East in press freedom according to the Reporters Without Borders organization.
The minister expressed concern at the continuous threat posed to peace and security in the Arab region by the Israeli government’s obstinacy and continuous violations of international resolutions and agreements. Still on the subject of the Arab region, he highlighted that Kuwait supports regional and international efforts to assist Iraq to deal with its security, political and economic challenges in a way that preserves its unity and enables it to live in peace with itself and its neighbors.
He warned against calls promoting extremism and discrimination, saying that such features go against human values and urged the need for dialogue and tolerance as the sole options for the international community. During his visit, Sheikh Dr. Mohammad visited Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz who is currently spending a period of convalescence there following a bout of ill health. Sheikh Dr. Mohammad was seen off on his departure by senior Kuwaiti Embassy officials.
