The Embassy of Kuwait in Canberra celebrates the 49th of Kuwait’s National Day Kuwaiti Ambassador Jamal Al Ghunaim: The trade figures reaches more than $ 900 million Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd: We look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to Australia as guest of the government In the twenty-fifth day of February 2010, the Kuwaiti flag, decorated the sky of the world by its colours green, white, black and red to celebrate the 49th National Day of Kuwait and 19th anniversary of the Liberation of Kuwait. The Kuwait embassy in Australia celebrates the National Day which was attended by over 650 people, including prominent political and economic personalities at the highest levels. The Ambassador of Kuwait Jamal Al-Ghunaim with his wife and the embassy staff Chancellor Anas Al Shaheen and his wife, the cultural attaché Dr. Ahmed al Athari, Michari Al Nibari and his wife, Ms. Amira Dashti and her husband, Fahad Munifi received guests and dignitaries. Amongst the guests were the Parliamentary Secretary to the multicultural Federal MP Laurie Ferguson, head of protocol in the Australian Foreign Affairs department Katherine White and the representative of the Chief of Staff of the armed forces and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a number of MPs and Senators from different political parties and the military of the aviation and marine, in addition to members of the Arab diplomatic corps accredited in Australia, businessmen, academics and the media, as well as Kuwaiti students who are pursuing higher studies in Australian universities. The celebration started with national anthem of Australia and Kuwait then gave the Ambassador of Kuwait to Australia and New Zealand Jamal Al-Ghunaim speech on the occasion and in English. Full text of the speech of Kuwaiti Ambassador Jamal Al Ghunaim Your Excellencies, Dear Friends, On behalf of the Embassy of the State of Kuwait in Canberra, I would like to thank you and express my sincere appreciation and deepest gratitude for sharing with us today our National Day Celebration, which reflects the strength of the existing relations between the State of Kuwait and the Commonwealth of Australia on both the formal and public levels. Your Excellencies, Dear Friends The year 2009 has witnessed a huge leap in the Kuwaiti – Australian relations represented by many bilateral formal visits, and most importantly the visit of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Honourable Ms Julia Gillard, to the State of Kuwait. In addition to the visit of many Australian trade delegations, which contributed to further enhance the trade and investment relations between our two countries, and led to the significant increase in trade exchange to reach more than 900 million Dollars. The State of Kuwait, as a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council, has always regarded Australia as an important and reliable economy partner, and is eagerly anticipating finalising the negotiations of the free trade zone with the Commonwealth of Australia in order to proceed to signing the agreement. On the Security level, the State of Kuwait and The Commonwealth of Australia are linked with strong security and military relations, which are backdated to the great contribution of the Australian forces in the liberation process of the State of Kuwait in 1991, such a role will always be present in the minds and the conscience of the Kuwaiti people. Your Excellencies, Dear Friends, As the current Chair of the Gulf Cooperation Council, the State of Kuwait has the honour to express its full support for the creation of strong strategic relations between the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Commonwealth of Australia. In this regard, I would like to announce that the State of Kuwait is keen to lead the first strategic dialogue planned to be held in March 2010 between the Member States of the Gulf Cooperation Council and Australia, in order to further enhance bilateral cooperation. Your Excellencies, Dear Friends, Once again, I would like to thank you for attending our National Day celebration today, hoping that the Australian – Kuwaiti relations will further grow and prosper. The Parliamentary Secretary for multicultural Federal Laurie Ferguson MP, delivered a message from the Prime Minister of Australia Kevin Rudd, which was sent on the occasion of National Day of Kuwait.
 Full text of the message of the Honourable Kevin Rudd MP Prime Minister of Australia Australia and the State of Kuwait share a warm and constructive friendship, which has grown even stronger over the past year. Greater numbers of Kuwaitis are visiting Australian shores and choosing to study in our country, which will only serve to deepen our relationship in the years ahead. Kuwait and Australia also share an important trade and investment relationship, with Kuwait one of our major trading partners in the Gulf region. We hope to enhance this relationship in the coming years through greater engagement with the Gulf Cooperation Council, particularly as Kuwait holds the presidency this year. We are also sincerely grateful to the government and people of Kuwait for their vital and enduring support of Australian Defence Force operations in the Middle East. In 2009, the Deputy Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, had the opportunity to visit Kuwait. The Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, also had the pleasure of meeting with the Emir of Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah. As with all good friends, we in turn look forward to welcoming Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to Australia as a guest of the Government in the near future. This will be yet another stride forward in the highly-valued and ever-deepening relationship between our two great countries. I would like to convey to the people of Kuwait the warm wishes of the Australian Government and people on the occasion of the National Day of Kuwait. May the friendship between the State of Kuwait and Australia continue to flourish. Information fair The function included an information exhibition of publications, books, documents and photographs telling the story of Kuwait and its development in various fields. 
Ambassador Al Ghunaim and his wife, receiving guests and delegations  Saudi ambassador Hassan Nazer, the Egyptian Ambassador Omar Metwally and other guests  Moroccan Ambassador Mohammed Mael Ainin, the Libyan ambassador Dr. Abdullah bin Fadl, Ambassador of Jordan Rajab Sukayri Ambassador of Iraq Ghanim Al-Shibli, charge d'affaires of the UAE Mohammed al Manihi
From the right, Michari al Nibari, his wife, and Chancellor Anas Al Shaheen (first left) and his wife Chancellor at the Saudi embassy Dr. Reda al Nuzha in conversation with Ms. Amira Dashti 
The second secretary at the Libyan embassy Hussein Binghawar, Syrian Consul Jawdat Ali and Abdelkader Alloush from the Embassy of Morocco  Maurice O’Beid with Abdel-Qader Alloush from the Embassy of Morocco and the Lebanese Consul Maher al Kheir Ambassador Al Ghunaim and his wife, are greeted guests  The Libyan ambassador Dr. Abdullah bin Fadl and his wife with other guest during the ceremony Oman Consul-General in Australia Hamad al Hajri with Parliamentary Secretary of multicultural Laurie Ferguson MP and Hussein Binghawar from the Libyan People's Office  Palestinian Ambassador Izzat Abdul Hadi with other participants From Right: Steven Shalala, the UAE military attaché Brigadier Abdullah Al-Hashimi Kuwaiti Ambassador Jamal Al Ghunaim, Simon Melki, the Kuwaiti cultural attaché Dr. Ahmed Al Athari Ambassador Ghunaim and his wife, with Ms. Ghada Assad 
Colonel Ahmed al-Marri (first left) with other participants |
