The year 2011 may be remembered in the Middle East for the unprecedented scenes of upheaval, but for Kuwait it marks a special milestone in more ways than one.
The “Constitutional monarchy” will be celebrating the Golden Jubilee of its independence as well as the completion of 20 years since its liberation from the Iraqi invasion.
The Emir of Kuwait would also have completed five years since his ascendancy to the throne.
The turmoil in the Middle East notwithstanding, Kuwaiti Ambassador to India Sami Mohammad Al-Sulaiman asserted that his country was not expecting “any critical developments” of a similar nature.
Mr. Al-Sulaiman was speaking to journalists at the Embassy here on Wednesday and was quick to emphasise that Kuwait was different, in its structure and outlook, from other countries in the region.
“We have a way of regulating the relationship between people and the monarchy, and that is through institutions,” he said. The Ambassador claimed that Kuwait was “known and famous” for its democratic machinery and “judicial power,” having sustained “political stability for over three centuries.”
Its citizens had enjoyed considerable economic prosperity and the Emir's decision to distribute a bonus of close to $3000 to each citizen was in line with the celebrations lined up this year.
On the eve of External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna's visit to Kuwait, the Ambassador said that both countries were working together to facilitate improved working conditions for unskilled and semi-skilled personnel from India.
“We have had some visa issues in the past, but the joint working group constituted to monitor the situation has been meeting regularly”, he said.
