Tuesday, August 23, 2005

[Kuwait] Set up anti-poverty fund to help poor Asian countries:'Use AAPP forum to resolve regional conflicts in Asia'

ISLAMABAD (KUNA): Kuwait Monday stressed on establishing a fund to help poor countries in offloading debts based on the initiative of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad al-Jaber Al-Sabah made earlier before the Security Council.Waleed Al-Tabtabaei, head of the Kuwaiti parliamentary delegation, in his speech at the Executive Council meeting of Association of Asian Parliament for Peace (AAPP), underlined the importance of AAPP in achieving prosperity and progress for Asian people as well as eradication of poverty. He said all is done on the establishment of a fund for supporting the poor. "In this context I would like to recall the initiative of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait before the Security Council calling for relieving poor and developing countries of the debts and their profits."

He underscored the contribution of Kuwait Red Crescent Society, especially to countries that were victims of the tsunami that struck several Indian Ocean littoral countries, displacing thousands of people, nearly a year ago. He also recalled the role played by Kuwait in providing humanitarian assistance to Iraqi people. Strengthening the solid basics that affect decision makers in the Asian countries is considered one of the vital topics that need to be addressed by the Asian parliaments in order to achieve peace and prosperity, he said.Therefore, to achieve all our noble goals and objectives "we must confirm the resolution of the fifth conference held in Islamabad and make sure to set a suitable agenda that achieve the goals and purposes of the coming sixth conference in Thailand, he concluded."Chauhdary Amir Hussain, incumbent president of the AAPP, in his opening address, said peace and stability are not a self-evolving phenomenon and the weak shall be protected against the strong and people living in bondage shall be freed.

He said the AAPP forum should be used to resolve regional conflicts in Asia to make it prosperous and peaceful.He said the creation of an Asian Assembly will be a historic step and will change the entire political spectrum of the world and give the people of Asia an opportunity to be heard.He recommended war poverty to be given top priority on the agenda of the AAPP. "This is not a utopian dream", he said, adding, "All we have to do is to show dedication, commitment, devotion and political will in order to translate this dream into reality".He also stressed on the need of establishing the Asian Anti-Poverty Fund, which will play its due role in collaboration with the United Nations to eliminate poverty from the face of Asia.The AAPP president also touched on other global issues such as globalization, women and children trafficking, terrorism, and underlined the need of the concept of "enlightened moderation".

In his concluding remarks, he said, "Our paramount and primary consideration is to give a better life to people". He also hoped to materialize the dream of a marvelous future for Asia and build a road that leads to a wonderful Asia of tomorrow. The AAPP meeting in its day-long deliberation will focus over the agenda of the forthcoming meeting of the general assembly of AAPP that will be held in Thailand and also review the report on the activities of the Association since the last general assembly meeting and consider the budget of the association for the next financial year. The AAPP was established during a meeting for the parliamentarians of Asian countries held at Dhaka, Bangladesh in 1999. Around 100 parliamentarians from 38 countries from all over Asia are participating in this international event.

No comments: