Celebration theme ‘peace has a home’

KUWAIT CITY, Jan 24, (KUNA): Al-Qurain Martyrs Museum bears testimony of the Kuwaiti resistance fighters’ courage during the 1990-1991 Iraqi occupation of the country, said the US Ambassador to the State of Kuwait Alina Romanowski. Liberation is a significant part of the two countries’ history, said the ambassador, re-affirming Washington’s commitment to safeguard Kuwait’s security, also noting that Washington has now remained as adamant to protect Kuwait as it was 30 years ago.

Romanowski was speaking on sidelines of her visit to the museum. She was accompanied by Secretary-General of the National Council of Culture, Arts and Letters Kamel Al Abduljelil and his assistant Dr Tahani Al-Adwani. The visit was part of a package of activities organized by the US embassy marking the 30th anniversary of liberating Kuwait.

The envoy was recalling the heroic stance of a group of Kuwaiti resistance fighters who bravely battled a large number of Iraqi occupation troops that surrounded their hideout in the district of Al-Qurain, 20 kilometers south of the capital, Kuwait City. This landmark testifies to the patriotism and will of the Kuwaiti people that rose up to the challenge, resisted injustice for sake of liberating the homeland of the blatant Iraqi aggression, Al Abduljelil for his turn stated. He paid tribute to the martyrs who had fallen for sake of keeping the homeland, lauding the brave stance of the United States that led the resistance. Al Abduljelil and Romanowski toured sections of the museum.

They were briefed by the museums’ curator Salman Boland, who noted that a number of the resistance had fallen as martyrs as a result of the bloody battle that erupted on February 14, 1991. The council had transformed the bullet poked building into a museum upon orders by the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi said the celebrations of the 60th National Day and the 30th Liberation Day will kick off early February under the theme “peace has a home,” taking into consideration health safety precautions.

This year’s celebrations, extending till March 31, will be the first national celebrations under the leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, minister Al-Mutairi, also head of the committee for national celebrations said in a press statement on Sunday, after concluding the committee’s meeting. This year’s theme represents Kuwait’s efforts to achieve and protect peace around the world, initiated by His Highness the late Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- Jaber Al-Sabah and carried on by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf, he noted. He added that a national campaign “raising our flag with pride” will start next Monday, calling on all citizens and expatriates to raise the Kuwaiti flag wherever they are, expressing their love for the country.