His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah addressed the people of Kuwait on Sunday on the occasion of the last 10 days of Ramadan affirming anew his keenness on maintaining national unity and warning that he will not tolerate any bid to tamper with the social fabric of the homeland. The Amir, in his address, started with extending congratulations to the people of Kuwait, the Arab and Muslim nations on the Holy Month of Ramadan, noting “the talk about the last ten days of Ramadan is of paramount significance for me for these nights are distinguished with a special spiritual atmosphere sensed by all of us,” referring to the Quranic verse that describes Al-Qader Night that falls within this period of time during the fasting month as better than one thousand months.

In the introduction of the speech, His Highness highlighted the tragic and painful fire in Al-Jahra that occurred last month, causing the death of “tens of mothers, daughters and sons.” He added that sentiments of the citizens and the residents were united in solidarity with the families of the victims, depicting the genuine identity of the people and their solidarity, at hard and prosperous times. “We pray to His Almighty during this sacred month that he may bestow his mercy upon souls (of the victims) and settle them in his vast paradise and enable their relatives to be patient and grant the injured quick recovery.” Affirming that devotion to the homeland is the common objective of all Kuwaitis, the Amir said, “Kuwait is the entity that unites us all, it is the stable existence and the safe haven for all, it has been protected by the natives for a long time, with blood of the martyrs watering its pure soil, and among have been the honest who have shouldered the responsibility of the renaissance of the homeland.

“Till today, it (Kuwait) hosts the faithful who work for its service with devotion and love, thus every citizen is responsible.” Citizen’s responsibilities vary, such as the commitment to the religion, boasting of patriotism, adherence to the high morals, renouncing discords and obscene acts and words, respect of the laws that we have enacted for maintaining rights, illustrating duties, organizing citizens’ affairs, in addition to the respect to the traditions and the values of tolerance, His Highness noted. Sheikh Sabah affirmed the great need for unifying the national ranks to cope with external rapid, and some painful — developments, as “we should follow the example of the ancestors whose deeds depict their devotion to the homeland, preserving its security and stability and national unity.” “What I read and heard of categorization and division among the people (of Kuwait) hurt me, as well as the exaggeration of tribal and sectarian prejudice which are categorizations and labels we are not used to and did not know in the past or even accept under one nation that does not segregate between its sons,” he said.

“We must remember that our national unity is what brought the people of Kuwait together in the toughest of situations and troubles. Protecting it and guarding it from the actions of meddlers and conspirers is a holy patriotic duty. “I will not allow any one to meddle or interfere with our national fabric. If the freedom of speech and action is ensured to all, that does not mean that this right be misused. Any abuse carried out towards our nation and its principles will not be tolerated. “The duty should be to unify our ranks in facing all who intend to inflict evil on this nation, cause division amongst its people, or disturb its safety and stability. “I repeat my invitation to audio and visual media to preserve a limited space of freedom,” and not be a base for conspiracy, chaos and division in the society,” he added.

HH the Amir also expressed the nation’s readiness to follow global advances in all fields, saying that nations who fail to advance are ones who are concerned more with conflict than development and hard work. He also noted the dangers of swine flu, indicating that the country has taken all necessary procedures in tackling the disease, as well as increasing precautionary awareness and guidelines. “We thank God Almighty that its spread (the disease) has been limited (in Kuwait) according to international statistics. We ask of God Almighty to protect our dear nation and gracious people and residents from this disease, and that he may cure its victims.” In conclusion, he congratulated everyone on the last ten holy nights of Ramadan, remembering the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and late Father Amir Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, and Kuwait’s martyrs, wishing the best health for Head of the National Guard HH Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah.

Arabtimes