Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, conducts his first visit to Kuwait for the first time since the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990, and officially participates in the official ceremony to open a new Palestinian embassy in the country. Abbas’s visit comes 22 years since the sharp deterioration in relations between Kuwait and the Palestinian Liberation organization (PLO) that was headed by late President, Yasser Arafat, who did not denounce the invasion but clearly stated that he does not approve of it, but also strongly rejected the use of force against Iraq for invading Kuwait.
After raising the Palestinian flag on the embassy during the official ceremony, Abbas said that this is a historic moment in mutual relations between the Kuwaitis and the Palestinians.
Abbas added that the Palestinians are proud of the Kuwaiti stances regarding the Palestinian cause, and its hosting of thousands of Palestinians.
The Palestinian President also stated that the Fateh movement and the PLO “were born in Kuwait and were welcomed by the Kuwaiti people and government”.
On his part, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister, Sabah Al-Khaled As-Sabah, stated that Kuwait appreciates, and is proud of the role the Palestinians played in developing the country.
It is worth mentioning that Kuwait was a major donor and supporter of the PLO and late President Yasser Arafat who established the Fateh movement while in Kuwait in 1964.
In 2003, Kuwait refused to allow Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, to enter the country when he served as the Prime Minister under President Arafat, and said that its decision came after Abbas “refused to apologize for the stances of Arafat during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.”
