Sheikh Abdullah congratulates Kuwait's new FM as Gulf nation forms first govt under new emir

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, congratulated Abdullah Ali Al Yahya on his appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait.

During a phone conversation, Sheikh Abdullah wished Al Yahya success in his new mission, and expressed his eagerness to collaborate with the new Kuwaiti foreign minister on boosting UAE-Kuwait relations.

The UAE top diplomat underscored the deep-rooted ties that the UAE and Kuwait share, and their keenness to expand them to serve the interests of their countries and peoples and drive the collective efforts of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

Earlier on Wednesday Kuwait formed a government headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Sabah Al Salem Al Sabah, the state news agency said, the country's first cabinet after the death of its previous ruler.

Sheikh Mohammed appointed new ministers for oil, finance and foreign affairs in the first cabinet formed under Kuwait's new Emir Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Sabah, which he said would carry out reforms to comply with the emir's guidance.

"This is a heavy responsibility of a new phase of Kuwait's history which includes challenges and aspirations, and requires further hard work and genuine accomplishment," the prime minister said, quoted by KUNA.

The prime minister appointed Emad Mohammed Al Atiqi as oil minister, Anwar Ali Al Mudhaf as finance minister and Abdullah Ali Al Yahya as foreign minister.

Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Sabah, who came to power in December after his predecessor Sheikh Nawaf died, is expected to preserve Kuwaiti foreign policies including support for Gulf Arab unity, Western alliances, and good ties to Riyadh.

Agencies