Kuwait pledges economic support for Lebanon

BEIRUT: Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah pledged Tuesday his country’s support for Lebanon while announcing additional economic aid following his meeting with President Michel Aoun.

Al-Sabah announced that the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development would issue an aid package “in support of Lebanon” aimed at enhancing the country’s economy.

President Aoun for his part welcomed the support, after highlighting Lebanon’s struggles in coping “with the Syrian refugee crisis”.

“There are around two million Syrian refugees in Lebanon at the moment, which has taken its toll on our economy, as well as a huge number of Palestinians.”

President Michel Aoun’s visit to Kuwait kicked off Tuesday after landing in the Gulf country in the early hours of the morning.

The long-awaited visit, scheduled initially in November but postponed in the wake of Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s now-rescinded resignation, was aimed at consolidating the relationship between the two countries, with talks focusing on the recent developments in the Arab world and the region.

Aoun was accompanied by a Lebanese delegation, with the envoy being greeted by senior Kuwaiti officials before traveling to the Bayan Palace where the bilateral talks were held.