KUWAIT CITY, Sept 24: The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia celebrated the 94th National Day of Saudi Arabia at the Sheikh Jaber Cultural Center the day before yesterday in the presence of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Fahad Al- Yousef, several ministers, senior state officials, and heads of diplomatic missions. The event featured various cultural activities, including a performance by a traditional band of the Saudi dance known as Ardah, which highlights Saudi Arabia’s rich folklore and distinctive cultural heritage.

The event began with the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Sultan bin Saad welcoming the attendees, including His Highness the Prime Minister, and thanking them for accepting the invitation and joining the Saudi people in celebrating the National Day of Saudi Arabia and the announcement of its establishment and unification. He said, “I find it difficult to describe my feelings or speak from the land of Kuwait about the unique relationship between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

However, I can summarize it in a simple sentence that will remain for future generations to tell the story of Saudi Arabia’s struggle - It is enough to say that its founder embarked on his journey from Kuwait.” In a press statement issued on the sidelines of the ceremony, the ambassador extended his heartfelt congratulations to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, His Highness the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the honorable Saudi people on this great occasion, the significance of which is beyond words and has been felt since the time of the founder King Abdulaziz Al Saud. He said, “The beautiful paradox is that we celebrate here in Kuwait, as Saudi Arabia that you see today was founded by Kuwait, giving it a special place in the hearts of all Saudis.”

Gratitude
The ambassador expressed gratitude to Kuwait for celebrating with Saudi Arabia and its people on this joyous occasion. Meanwhile, the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of Tajikistan Dr. Zubaydullah Zubaydov extended his warmest congratulations to Ambassador Sultan bin Saad on the occasion of the 94th anniversary of the founding of Saudi Arabia.

In a press statement, Ambassador Zubaydov said Saudi Arabia’s celebration is a holiday for all Muslims. He affirmed the important role that Saudi Arabia plays in the Islamic world and the region. Ambassador Zubaydov praised the level of development achieved under the wise leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the insightful vision of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, wishing for continued progress and prosperity for Saudi Arabia and its people.

Furthermore, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bukhamseen Holding Group Jawad Bukhamseen extended his warmest congratulations to Saudi Arabia, its King, government, and people, wishing them continued progress and prosperity.

Bukhamseen said, “As we celebrate the 94th anniversary of Saudi National Day, we proudly remember Saudi Arabia’s unwavering support for Kuwait during the brutal Iraqi invasion and its hosting of the Kuwaiti leadership. We also recall the words of the late King Fahad bin Abdulaziz - “Kuwait must return, otherwise Saudi Arabia will go with Kuwait”, “If Kuwait’s dignity is lost, Saudi Arabia’s dignity will be lost”, and “There is no Kuwait and Saudi Arabia; we are one nation, and we either live together or perish together.” Saudi Arabia’s holidays are also Kuwait’s holidays. Our relationship is solid and deep-rooted, as we are one people.” He praised King Abdulaziz’s journey from Kuwait to unify the Arabian Peninsula and highlighted the remarkable development Saudi Arabia has achieved at all levels. Bukhamseen stressed that Saudi Arabia’s development is a benefit to Kuwait and all Gulf countries, adding, “We take pride in its advancements, as it ranks among the 20 most economically advanced nations”.

He concluded by highlighting the insightful vision of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and his efforts to drive Saudi Arabia’s economic and social progress, as well as its pivotal role in the region, as it is the destination of Muslims, which grants it a unique status among Islamic countries and peoples.

Also, the UAE Ambassador to Kuwait Dr. Matar Al-Neyadi congratulated Saudi Arabia on this occasion, expressing that it holds significance for all Arabian Gulf countries. He wished for Saudi Arabia’s continued success under the wise leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Ambassador Al-Nayedi said, “Congratulations to Saudi Arabia on this Eid. The joy is a Gulf joy”.

In this regard, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Kuwait Vladimir Geltov also extended his warmest congratulations to the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Sultan bin Saad Al-Saud. He said, “There are personal relations among colleagues and diplomatic relations between countries. Ambassador Sultan is making significant efforts to serve Saudi Arabia across various fronts. Our relations with Saudi Arabia, which span decades, remain strong despite the current regional challenges. We welcome and encourage these ties to further the interests of our friendly nations.”

Congratulated
Meanwhile, the British Ambassador to Kuwait Belinda Lewis congratulated the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its leadership, government, and people on its National Day, and praised the remarkable developments and achievements in Saudi Arabia. Ambassador Lewis expressed her best wishes to all Saudi citizens who are celebrating the occasion, stating, “They have a wonderful country that is witnessing many new and progressive developments.” She also expressed her admiration for the cultural events, folklore shows, and Saudi national songs that she enjoyed, indicating that they reflect a distinctive and unique cultural style.

In a similar vein, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Lebanese Embassy in Kuwait Ahmed Arafa extended his congratulations to Saudi Arabia and its people, wishing the country continued prosperity and progress under its wise leadership. He affirmed that Saudi Arabia continues to play a vital regional and pioneering role. He also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s significant contributions throughout the history of contemporary Lebanon, particularly its pivotal role in the Taif Agreement that ended 15 years of conflict.

He said, “Given the current challenges Lebanon is facing, we hope that Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries will play a role similar to what Saudi Arabia did in the 1980s.” The Iraqi Ambassador to Kuwait Al-Manhal Al-Safi expressed his happiness at celebrating the 94th anniversary of Saudi National Day. He wished Saudi Arabia continued prosperity and progress, adding, “There are many plans to build bridges and deepen Iraq-Saudi relations in various economic, cultural, and tourism sectors.” The Australian Ambassador to Kuwait Melissa Kelly conveyed her congratulations in Arabic to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on its National Day. She expressed her admiration for the Sheikh Jaber Cultural Center, which hosted the celebration and wished for more progress and prosperity for both Saudis and Kuwaitis.

The Indian Ambassador Dr. Adarsh Swaika congratulated Saudi Arabia on this great day, highlighting the long-standing and strong ties between India and Saudi Arabia in various fields and levels. The Omani Ambassador to Kuwait Dr. Saleh Al-Kharousi said, “We rejoice with Saudi Arabia in its celebrations. This joyous occasion is a celebration for all Omanis and the peoples of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries”.

Growth
He congratulated his Saudi counterpart Ambassador Sultan bin Saad, and wished for further development and growth in Saudi Arabia. Ambassador Al-Kharousi affirmed that the rapid progress in Saudi Arabia is driven by wise leadership that understands the magnitude of challenges and ambitions, noting that all GCC countries are moving toward greater cooperation and integration. The Ambassador of Bahrain to Kuwait Salah Al-Malki also extended his warmest congratulations to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the occasion of Saudi National Day. He highlighted the solid and historical nature of Saudi-Bahrain relations, describing them as a model worth emulating. Ambassador Al-Malki expressed wishes for continued prosperity and security for Saudi Arabia, adding that he hopes its banner will always fly high.

He concluded by saying, “Happy New Year to everyone”. The US Ambassador to Kuwait Karen Sasahara said, “As you know, my first diplomatic mission was in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, specifically in Jeddah. Saudi Arabia holds a special place in my heart. This is a wonderful opportunity for all of us to come together and pay our respects to a fellow diplomat, especially a member of the diplomatic corps.” She added, “I was away for three weeks, and this is the first event I’ve attended since returning to Kuwait.”

When asked about her thoughts on the meetings held by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled in New York, the US Ambassador said, “I believe the New York meetings are among the most important multilateral gatherings this year. They brought together many leaders, and His Highness the Crown Prince held several important meetings with heads of state and representatives from various countries.” Ambassador Sasahara affirmed the significance of the diplomatic meetings and discussions occurring at the General Assembly this week, where heads of state and leaders will address important issues. She indicated that there will be extensive bilateral meetings alongside the Assembly’s activities. Ambassador Sasahara said, “What is happening there is not only exciting but also very important, especially at this time, as leaders will have the opportunity to communicate directly, exchange ideas, and monitor current developments.” She expressed her confidence that His Highness the Crown Prince “will meet with members of the private sector and the business community, as well as hold meetings with senior American officials and representatives from other countries.”

By Inaas Awadh
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff