On February 5 RA NA President Artur Baghdasaryan’s official visit to the State of Kuwait began.
After visiting the center of scientific progress the members of delegation were hosted at the Armenian national college, where His Grace father Koryun Archbishop Papian met the delegation. The delegation walked around the college, got acquainted with the teachers and familiarized with educational conditions.
A meeting with the representatives of Kuwait diocese council, national department and public-educational organizations took place in the primacy of the Armenian diocese of Kuwait and Gulf Arab countries.
Zhirayr Snabian, Chairman of the diocese council of Kuwait and Gulf Arab countries noted in his welcoming speech that the Armenian community of Kuwait hosted many outstanding national, cultural and party figures during its fifty-year existence but it’s the first time it has the honour to receive the President of the National Assembly of Armenia and delegation headed by him. And it’s a historical day in the life of the community. Mr. Snabian presented the life of Kuwait-Armenians, noted that they always displayed their support to their Motherland and they are ready to do their utmost from now on. The Chairman of the diocese highlighted the adoption of the law on Dual-Citizenship, the facing of the inner and external problems of Armenia with the involvement of Diaspora.
Arshak Poladyan, Ambassador of Armenia to Kuwait presented the foreign policy of Armenia in the Gulf Arab countries, highlighting the deepening of political and trade-economic relations.
On behalf of the authorities of Armenia and National Assembly the NA President had his welcoming speech to the Kuwait Armenians, expressing his joy on such united and organized community. Artur Baghdasaryan noted that the Armenian spirit prevails in Kuwait, and it’s obvious in the Armenian national college and primacy. The Parliament President thanked those people who support Armenia morally and materially, promote the preservation of the national values. “Armenia goes forward making stable steps,” said NA President, noting that a stronger, more welfare Armenia putting year by year the stone on the stone, and on that way the strengthening of the relations with the Diaspora. Then the Parliament President told about the reforms being carried out in Armenia, noting that in the result of Constitutional reforms the adoption of the dual citizenship around which political accord has been made. Artur Baghdasaryan highlighted the development of the relations with the Gulf Arab countries, advocate of which will be the parliament of Armenia, because it emanates from the national interests of Armenia, and the right development of the relations with the Arab world is very important on the way of overcoming the challenges. The establishment of direct flights was considered an important impetus for the development of relations with Armenia. The Parliament President also answered the questions of the community members.
On February 6 RA NA President Artur Baghdasaryan met with Bader Al-Homeydi, President of the Fund for Arab Economic Development of Kuwait. The Fund that was established in 1961 with $ 7bn capital, belongs to the Government, mainly finances the activities of the infrastructures, the obligatory condition of crediting is getting profit by a creditor, the credits are given for 20-25 years by 2-2,5%. During the negotiations the directions were pointed out, by which Armenia can submit its programmes to the Fund in order to study and finance. The scientific, health care spheres, regional development programmes were considered preferable by Kuwait. An agreement was reached that Armenia will present 2 programmes with $ 25m and the studies with the procedure of the fund will begin.
During the meeting with Jasem Mohammad Abdulmuhsen Al-Khorafi, Speaker of the National Assembly of the State of Kuwait the problems of establishing partnership between the parliaments of Armenia and Kuwait was discussed. In the atmosphere of mutual understanding the sides highlighted the establishment of peace in the region, fighting the terrorism, partnership in international instances, mutual visits. RA NA Speaker Artur Baghdasaryan stated that a great number of Armenians live in the Arab countries, 5000 live in Kuwait. He thanked the state of Kuwait for careful attention towards the Armenian community. The issues of joining the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union to the Armenian Parliamentary Friendship Assembly and the opening of the Arab culture in Armenia were also discussed. Elaborating on the problem of Nagorno- Karabakh Jasem Mohammad Abdulmuhsen Al-Khorafi noted that Kuwait is for the peaceful settlement of the conflict.
In the result of the meeting RA NA Speaker Artur Baghdasaryan and Jasem Mohammad Abdulmuhsen Al-Khorafi, Speaker of the National Assembly of the State of Kuwait signed inter-parliamentary partnership agreement, where it says that
highlighting the development of friendship and partnership between the people of Armenia and Kuwait, being based on the principles of respecting each other’s rights and interests,
emphasizing the developing relations of RA and the State of Kuwait, agreed upon developing all kinds of mutual partnership,
promoting the deepening of relations between the Republic of Armenia and the State of Kuwait based on the principle equality and mutual interest in the social, trade-economic, cultural, scientific-educational and other spheres,
The sides will exchange parliamentary delegations and work on strengthening ties between the two parliaments, standing committees and personnel members. In order to coordinate the actions and positions from both sides they will co-operate within the framework of Inter-Parliamentary Union and other parliamentary organizations. Besides, the sides will shape a parliamentary joint committee of developing bilateral relations. Within the framework of agreement and according to the legislations of Armenia and Kuwait, the sides will exchange their legislative experience, their positions pertaining to the laws and other documents of interest from both sides. Each side will host the representatives of the other side to take part in the assemblies, workshops and other arrangements, which will be organized within the framework of the agreement. The conditions of the visits will be decided by mutual consent.
RA NA President Artur Baghdasaryan invited Jasem Mohammad Abdulmuhsen Al-Khorafi, Speaker of the National Assembly of the State of Kuwait to Armenia on an official visit.
During the meeting with Ali Tneyan Al-Ghanem, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Kuwait issues pertaining to the trade-economic relations were discussed, an agreement was reached to have delegations of businessmen to visit from Kuwait to Armenia and from Armenia to Kuwait by support of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Kuwait to discuss the possibilities of bilateral relations, to organize business forums and goods exhibition.
The same day during the meeting with the Culture and Information Minister of Kuwait RA NA President Artur Baghdasaryan handed him the letter of the Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs of Armenia, which relates to the bilateral cultural cooperation.
The Parliament President highlighted the exchange of information in the relations of two countries. Other issues were also discussed.
The first official meeting of February 7 was with Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Prime Minister of Kuwait. Passing RA President Robert Kocharyan’s message, RA NA President Artur Baghdasaryan stated that Armenian-Kuwaiti first official meetings have the goal to develop the bilateral cooperation in all spheres. A proposal was made to sign an inter-state cooperation agreement, which will include all spheres of cooperation, which was approved by the Sheikh. It was noted that the two countries defend the idea of regional peace and there isn’t and there wasn’t any disagreement of political, economic and other nature between each other, and that is a good basis for future development of relations, as well as bilateral cooperation and partnership in international structures. Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Prime Minister of Kuwait gladly accepted the invitation of the official visit to Armenia, and the dates will be specified in future. It was also noted that Kuwait is for the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno - Karabakh problem and defending that viewpoint in the international structures.
During the meeting with Muhammad Dayfallah al-Sharar, Deputy Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait were the issues of having an Ambassador of Kuwait to Armenia and an Embassy, ratification of legal-treaty base, partnership in the spheres science, education, culture and tourism, as well as problems of two regions. It was noted that the political positions of two countries coincide, and two countries strive to establish and strengthen peace and stability. The Deputy Prime Minister expressed readiness to promote the solution of those problems, noting that Kuwait has a goal to develop its trade-economic and scientific relations with Armenia. The mutual visits of the delegations were highlighted, which give opportunity to get familiarized with the problems and possibilities of each other on the spot. With that purpose a delegation will arrive Armenia from Kuwait to get familiarized with the legislative and economic possibilities of setting up joint enterprises.
During the meeting with Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah the issues of having an Ambassador in Armenia, the establishment of legal-treaty base and partnership in international structures, as well as the Arab cultural center in Armenia were highlighted. It was noted that the existence of the Armenian community is a good base for deepening the relations with Armenia. This year is the 90th
year of the Armenian Genocide in 1915, and the members of the Armenian community will mark those events in Kuwait, too. Highlighting the role of Kuwait in deepening the relations with the Arab countries, RA NA President Artur Baghdasaryan noted that Armenia would like to take part in the Islamic conference in the status of observer. The Foreign Minister stated that after solving some issues of organizational nature it will be possible to touch upon that issue.
The delegation members have been also in the center for development and research of Kuwait, and the director presented their activities, which includes the spheres of ecology, health care, fish industry, science and education. During the meeting an arrangement was reached on the exchange of the scientists and delegations of the national academies of the science of two countries and signing an agreement of partnership between them.
During the meeting with Dr Muhammad Ahmad Al-Jarallah, Health Minister of Kuwait the issues of partnership in the health system were also discussed, in particular, the signing of bilateral agreements, the exchange of specialists and medical equipment, the patients’ treatment in the specialized medical institutions and the establishment of joint pharmaceutical enterprises. An agreement was reached on mutual visits of the groups of specialists in Armenia and Kuwait in order to get familiarized with concrete possibilities and demands. It was also noted to establish resorts and develop them.
On February 7 the delegation left for the Kingdom of Bahrain.
