Cooperation between Russia and Kuwait serves the interests of the two nations and is in line with strengthening peace and security in the Middle East, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent greetings to Emir of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on his accession to the throne.
Putin noted that Russia and Kuwait enjoy friendly, constructive relations, and confirmed his intention to continue joint work on developing bilateral cooperation in different areas as well as partnership in international affairs. "This undoubtedly meets the interests of the two peoples and goes in line with strengthening peace and security in the Middle East," the Russian leader's press service reports in a statement on Thursday.
The 83-year-old Crown Prince was named Emir on Tuesday after the death of 91-year-old Kuwait Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who died in the United States, where he was treated since July. Already then, in connection with the hospitalization of the head of state, his half-brother Crown Prince Nawaf was given a number of powers. According to the Constitution of Kuwait, the heir to the throne after the death of the governor automatically becomes emir, but takes all the power only after taking an oath before the parliament.
Sheikh Nawaf was born on June 25, 1937, in Kuwait and is only eight years younger than his predecessor, who was one of the oldest statesmen in the world. The title of heir to the throne was given to the new emir in 2006 with the approval of the ruling family. In the past, he held a number of important leadership positions in the government, including the Minister of Defense of Kuwait in 1990 during the invasion and occupation by the regime of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. He led the National Guard, served as head of the Interior Ministry, and was deputy prime minister for counterterrorism issues. Experts note that it was Sheikh Nawaf's efforts that built the security and National Guard structures currently operating in the emirate.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS