UNITED NATIONS, March 5 (KUNA) -- Ambassador Mansour Al-Otaibi presented his credentials Thursday evening to UN Secretary Ban Ki-moon, as Kuwait's Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
The Kuwaiti representative also sent a letter to the UN Security Council president asking for maintaining "the situation between Kuwait and Iraq" on the council's agenda, to prevent it from being automatically and permanently scrapped from discussions.
Speaking to KUNA and Kuwait TV after his meeting with the Secretary General, Ambassador Al-Otaibi expressed pride for representing his country at the UN, and said that Ban congratulated him on his new post and wished him success in his mission, while underscoring the important role that Kuwait played in the UN.
Moreover, the ambassador said he conveyed to Ban the greetings of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, His Highness the Crown Prince, His Highness the Prime Minister, and Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister.
"I reaffirmed to the Secretary General that Kuwait is a small, peaceful country that is committed to the goals and principles of the United Nations, and that it will continue to support his (Ban's) efforts to reform the UN Secretariat and the General Assembly, as well as his role in reforming the Security Council," he said.
Ambassador Al-Otaibi said that he would utilize his experience in the service of Kuwait and the principles of the UN, based on his belief in the importance of the actions taken by the international organization in tackling global challenges.
The Kuwaiti representative said that during the meeting, he expressed to Ban his hope that following the Iraqi elections and the formation of a new government, the UN would continue to encourage and assist Iraq in implementing the remaining articles stipulated in UN resolutions, such as the maintenance of border markers between Kuwait and Iraq, the issue of missing Kuwaitis and the return of Kuwaiti property.
Ambassador Al-Otaibi reiterated to Ban that "Kuwait will stand by Iraq and assist and encourage it to implement these commitments," adding that the Secretary General affirmed that the UN would exert all efforts, through Ban's representative in Iraq Ad Melkert, to conclude these issues in the shortest possible time.
The new Kuwaiti representative officially took over his post as head of the Kuwaiti mission to the UN on February 22. Up to that date, Al-Otaibi was Director of the Kuwait Foreign Ministry's International Organizations Department from 2007. Prior to that, he was a member of Kuwait's UN mission from 1992 to 2006.
Ambassador Al-Otaibi is replacing Ambassador Abdullah Al-Murad, whose tenure ended in December.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Al-Otaibi held a luncheon on Thursday in honor of the Kuwaiti female delegation that is taking part in the 54th meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women, held at the UN March 1-12. The delegation groups head of the media committee at the Union of Kuwaiti Women's Societies, and members Dr. Dhuha Al-Shaqath and Sheikha Al-Mithen. - Kuna