TOKYO, March 20, (KUNA): On the occasion of his four-day state visit to Japan which began Tuesday, Japan’s major daily Asahi Shimbun had an exclusive interview with His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

The newspaper called the Amir “Japanophile,” noting that he is fond of the country and that the current trip marks his seventh visit here.

While expressing concern about the unstable situation of the Middle East in view of Iran’s nuke crisis and the Syrian oppression of anti-establishment groups, which have resulted in sharp rises in oil prices, His Highness the Amir told the daily how he is keen to uphold his responsibility to stabilize the oil market and the Arabian Gulf as the leader of a major oil-producing country.

The interview touched on several topics related to the relations and interactions between the two nations.
On the massive earthquake that hit the East of Japan last March, following which Kuwait has donated 5 million barrels of oil to the country, the Amir said, “Kuwait and Japan are celebrating over half a century of diplomatic relations, which have become well-established and increasingly prosperous over the past decades.

“The aid from Kuwait to Japan is the result of these developed relations. Moreover, Kuwait cannot forget the great stance of Japan when it stood by the rights of Kuwait during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990. This position has both cemented the bonds of this relationship and contributed actively to the liberation of Kuwait from the clutches of the occupation.”

The Amir was asked to comment on the concerns over nuclear safety in the Middle East. In response to the Fukushima nuclear plant accident in March last year, concern about the safety of nuclear plants is increasing around the world, the interviewer remarked. Kuwait’s neighboring countries, such as the UAE and Jordan have shown interest in acquiring a nuclear plant, much like Iran, the editor noted.

Caution

In response the Amir said, “Kuwait calls on all countries to take extreme caution when thinking about building a nuclear power plant taking into account the distance from the earthquake zones and natural disasters and protecting these sites so as to dissipate all fears.

“Kuwait, through coordination between the GCC countries, has established a center for disaster management based in Kuwait in order to coordinate between the GCC countries and to set preventive plans to counter any potential disaster.”

The Amir was asked more pointedly whether there was possibility of a nuclear power project in Kuwait. To this he said, “Kuwait had a plan to establish a nuclear power plant, and the related authorities have already started to prepare studies and scenarios for such a project. But considering the situation of the affected areas around the Fukushima plant after the accident, Kuwait decided to re-view the project, as did a number of countries who have transferred their nuclear energy programs to safer and more secure areas.”

The issue of the Iranian nuclear program was also brought up, and the Amir was asked what the GCC reaction would be in case of an Israeli or American military action against Iran. Sheikh Sabah said, “Kuwait is concerned as the rest of the world is, about the continued Iranian non-cooperation with the requirements of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regarding its nuclear program. Especially, Kuwait is concerned about Iran’s nuclear program at the Bushehr reactor, located on the Arabian Gulf, which is the source of water for the Gulf states.”

Should there be a leak from this reactor, the Amir stressed, this would “result in a disaster not only for Kuwait but for all the countries on the Arabian Gulf and (those) which depend on the desalination of the Gulf’s water for their drinking water.” He went on to say, “Kuwait hopes that this matter would be solved through peaceful means in order to avoid the disastrous results of any military action ... It is natural and logical that Kuwait and the GCC countries take all the necessary measures and precautions to counter any possible escalation.”

On the possible blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran as reaction to economic sanctions by Europe and America, the Amir was asked whether Kuwait has an alternative means to export oil without crossing the Strait. Sheikh Sabah said, “The Strait of Hormuz is considered a vital artery for the world as approximately half of the oil supply passes through it, and the GCC countries, including Kuwait, have contacted the officials in Iran to ensure that no action is taken to close the Strait of Hormuz ... We have received assurances from Iran that it will not take this step. And international efforts are also in this direction.

“For a long time, Kuwait has been working on providing a stockpile of oil through its global companies outside the Gulf region to ensure the constant supply to the countries importing the Kuwaiti oil, and also it is contacting countries in the GCC to face such a possibility.”

As for high oil prices and whether Kuwait has the ability to increase its production to stabilize the prices, the Amir said, “Kuwait is seeking, within OPEC, to supply the market according to its needs to ensure the price stability and to provide this strategic commodity at fair prices. Kuwait is also currently utilizing international expertise to increase its oil production in order to meet the future needs of the market, and we think that the fair price for both producing and consuming countries is one hundred US dollars a barrel.”

The interviewer then moved on to the so-called Arab Spring situation and noted the landslide victories of Islamist political parties in the countries concerned. “The political parties which have an Islamic leaning are part of the political fabric of the region’s countries. And the influence of these parties might rise or fall based on the facts on the local scene and the ability of those parties to interact positively with these facts,” the Amir argued.

“The victory of those parties comes as a result of fair democratic practices, result of which everyone should respect and deal with realistically as ‘the peoples’ choice’.”

The Japanese editor then recalled recent talk that Jordan and Morocco could be brought into GCC membership and asked about Kuwait’s stance on the matter. “We, the GCC countries, have special cooperation with Jordan and Morocco and we have agreed together on achieving a strategic partnership through which we can provide the necessary support ... to increase their pace of economic development.
“And consequently, they would contribute to the support of security and stability in their countries and in the region. We have laid the foundations of this strategy and agreed on its concepts.”

On the economic scene, the Kuwaiti leader was asked to comment on the impact of the eurozone crisis on the GCC unified currency program. “The European economic crisis has worsened. Will this affect the GCC’s unified currency program?” the editor asked.

His Highness the Amir said, “The Gulf’s unified currency program is subject to extensive and in-depth studies by economic advisers to ensure the issue of a strong Gulf currency according to the foundation and principles which ensure its strength and stability. There is no doubt that both the positive and negative aspects of the global economic crisis in general and the European crisis in particular will be considered when setting a comprehensive vision of this currency in order to immunize it.”

On Syria, the Amir was asked whether the GCC should somehow push the Assad regime. “Since the first spark of the crisis in Syria, the GCC countries have exerted their efforts within the Arab League to push the Syrian regime and persuade it to meet the just demands of the Syrian People. And Kuwait has been playing a leading role with the rest of the world and through the United Nations and the Human Rights Council to ensure the security and safety of the Syrian people.” When it comes to international community support to dissident groups in Syria, the Amir said, “The Syrian opposition has a big responsibility which requires its unity in order to ensure the facilitation of the support by the international community.

“On several occasions, the Arab League has called on the opposition parties to unite in order to achieve and facilitate the achievement of their demands and thereby help convince the international community to provide more support.”

On the Middle Eastern Peace Initiative, the editor noted that it has been 10 years since the declaration of the “Peace Initiative” by the Arab League. The Amir said, “The Arab countries have sought for decades to ensure a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East, and the peace initiative which was launched at the Beirut Summit came to form a roadmap that would be suitable whenever Israel’s intentions improved and committed it to implement the resolutions of international legitimacy timelessly and with no time-bounding.

“On various occasions and on different platforms, Kuwait has called on the United Nations and the peace-sponsoring countries to carry out their responsibilities in pushing Israel to make it comply with all UN resolutions so that the region in particular and the whole world in general could enjoy a just and lasting peace which achieves the righteous demands of the Palestinian people.”

Earlier, His Highness the Amir and his accompanying delegates arrived here for an official visit to Japan.
The Amir was received at Tokyo International Airport (Haneda) by the Japanese head of protocols in the Foreign Ministry, Kuwait’s Ambassador to Japan, Abdulrahman Al-Otaibi, members of the Arab diplomatic corps in Japan, and members of the Kuwaiti embassy.

The Amir was welcomed by 21 rounds in salute.