President Barack Obama (front center), stands with other leaders including HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (front row, 5th from right), for the Refugee Summit family photo during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters on Sept 20. (AP) NEW YORK, Sept 21, (KUNA): Kuwait on Wednesday rejected all forms of terrorism and reaffirmed its active contributions to the international coalition fi ghting the so-called Islamic State (IS).

This came in a speech by Representative of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sabah, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, before the UN General Assembly.

Kuwait condemns 'terrorist acts in all their forms and manifestations, as well as its total rejection of all acts of violence and extremism, that do not only contravene international laws and norms, but also the teachings of the true religion of Islam, and all other divine religions, in addition to cultural and human values,' he said.

His Highness the Prime Minister said terrorism was thriving in conflict zones because of failure to solve these conflicts. 'It is therefore, incumbent upon us to recognize that combating this odious phenomenon is an international responsibility, and no one country by itself, no matter how much it tries, can confront or eliminate it,' he said.

His Highness the Prime Minister noted that it was morally impermissible to link this phenomenon to any nationality, religion or civilization.

Efforts
As part of Kuwait's efforts to fighting the menace of terrorism, His Highness the Prime Minister noted his country contributed effectively to providing support to international efforts to combat IS in Iraq. 'We reiterate our position to stand by and support the government of Iraq, and commend its achievements in combating terrorism,' including those against IS, and 'emphasize our support of the measures and actions it takes, to maintain the security, stability, and territorial integrity of Iraq,' he said. The Iraqi forces have been battling IS militants in different parts of the country and would be launching a grand offensive against the terrorist group to retake the northern city of Mosul. Kuwait has also been fighting terrorism domestically with threats surfacing frequently but the security authorities were thwarting these plots.

Kuwait urged UN Security Council to keep pressure on Israel to solve the Palestinian cause, saying it would host an international conference to highlight suffering of Palestinian children. Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah said the international community's inability to find a permanent and comprehensive solution to the Middle East conflict was threatening peace and security in the region more than ever. Addressing UN General Assembly, he said this failure to address the Palestinian cause was coupled with oppressive practices of the Israeli occupation forces, and Israel's consistent and unjustifiable use of excessive force against the Palestinian people, in flagrant violation of resolutions of international legitimacy, and the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949.

Policies
Israel was continuing its aggressive policies because it is 'immune to any international accountability, except from any prosecution, and protected from any criticism or condemnations by the international organizations,' said His Highness the Prime Minister.

He urged UNSC to live up to its responsibilities and keep pressure on Israel to compel it implement relevant UN resolutions in order to help the Palestinian people achieve their legitimate political rights and recognize their independent state over the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with Arab peace initiative and land-for-peace principle.

His Highness the Prime Minister said out of Kuwait's desire to help the Palestinian people, it was working on hosting an international conference on suffering of the Palestinian children, through which Israel's serious and persistent violations of international conventions and norms relating to the rights of the child will be highlighted. The Kuwaiti senior offi cial also praised France's initiative and its effort to revive the Middle East peace process, hosting an international conference last June that refl ected the French interest in launching the process, with a view to its leading to a just and comprehensive solutions in the region.

On the other hand, His Highness the Prime Minister welcomed the decision of the President council in Libya to form a government of national accord, an important step towards the implementation of the Libyan Political Agreements. Kuwait, he said, hoped this step would help the Libyan people overcome the present challenges in order to preserve unity and independence of Libya. His Highness the Prime Minister strongly condemned the intentional targeting of populated areas, civil and