SANTIAGO: Chilean President Sebastian Pinera underscored on Tuesday the achievements of Kuwait under the rule of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, and said that the political and socio-economic system of Kuwait was a model for the world to follow given its democratic ways and the peace, security and stability that its people enjoyed.
This came in a speech by the president following a ceremony during which Kuwait and Chile signed four cooperation agreements.
President Pinera noted that Chile had expressed its support for Kuwait from the very beginning when the Iraqi forces invaded the Gulf state in 1990, and that it condemned the aggression against the country, adding that Chile was happy with the development of Kuwait today, which was a model to be emulated by other countries around the world.
President Pinera expressed his appreciation to His Highness the Amir for his support and assistance to victims of the earthquake that hit Chile in February.
He noted that Kuwait was heading the current GCC round, making Chile more interested in raising cooperation with the Gulf States at very advanced levels, and to sign a free trade agreement.
For his part, His Highness Sheikh Nasser expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome with which he and the accompanying delegation were received in Chile, saying that this reflected the depth of relations between the two countries.
He added that His Highness the Amir had signed a decree for opening a Kuwaiti embassy in Santiago, and welcomed the opening of a Chilean embassy in Kuwait, adding that cooperation between the two sides would not be limited to diplomacy, but would expand to include matters of mutual interest.
The Kuwaiti premier and the Chilean president witnessed the ceremony during which four agreements were signed between their countries.
The first agreement is to establish a joint committee for cooperation between the governments of Kuwait and Chile. It was signed by Kuwait\'s Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Dr. Mohammed Al-Sabah and Chile\'s Minister of Foreign Relations Alfredo Moreno Charme.
As for the second agreement, it was on economic and technical cooperation. It was signed by Kuwait\'s Finance Minister Mustafa Al-Shamali and Chile\'s Minister of Foreign Relations Alfredo Moreno Charme.
The third agreement was for commercial cooperation. It was signed by Kuwait\'s Minister of Commerce and Industry Ahmad Al-Haroun, and Chile\'s Minister of Foreign Relations.
Meanwhile, the fourth agreement was for aviation services. It was signed by Director General of Kuwait\'s Directorate General of Civil Aviation Bader Abdullah Butaiban, and Chile\'s Minister of Foreign Relations.
Later during the day, His Highness Sheikh Nasser concluded his visit to Chile, and headed to the seventh stop in his tour of Latin America.
A joint statement upon conclusion of the visit was issued on behalf of Sheikh Nasser and the Chilean President, Sebastian Pinera. It stated that the Kuwaiti premier had during his stay discussed bilateral relations, means to further political, economic, and trade relations, and the situation in the Middle East.
Both the Kuwaiti Premier and the Chilean President expressed satisfaction with the results of the second Arab-Latin American summit, hosted in Doha in 2009. They also expressed hope for similar success of the next summit, to be hosted by Peru in 2011.
At the international level, the statement pointed out that both parties condemned all forms of acts of terrorism which threaten peace and democracy. They also agreed on importance of dialogue which is based on principles of democracy, respect for international law, and respect for human rights.
Expressing gratitude for the hospitality with which the Kuwaiti delegation had been received, His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad extended an official invitation to visit Kuwait from His Highness the Amir, addressed to the Chilean president.
source:KUNA
