Kuwait: UN Strength Measured by Implementation of Its Resolutions and Translation into Tangible Results
New York, October 8 (KUNA) -- Kuwait reaffirmed on Thursday that the strength of the United Nations is measured not only by the number of resolutions adopted by its organs, but also by the extent to which those resolutions are respected and implemented, and by the system’s ability to translate the consensus of member states into tangible results on the ground. This was stated in Kuwait’s address, delivered by Third Secretary of its Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Abdulaziz Al-Saadi, during a general debate of the UN General Assembly on the item titled “Implementation of United Nations resolutions.”
Al-Saadi said that the purpose of adopting resolutions is not fulfilled merely by approving their texts, but by achieving the objectives for which they were issued. He emphasized the need to strengthen systematic follow-up mechanisms for implementing resolutions of UN organs, particularly the Security Council, to enable assessment of implementation levels, identify instances of non-compliance, and address them.
In this context, he recalled Kuwait’s experience during the brutal Iraqi invasion in 1990 as a prominent example of the effectiveness of multilateral international action when resolutions of international legitimacy are coupled with serious political will for their implementation. He noted that Security Council resolutions, starting from Resolution 660, which demanded the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Iraqi forces from Kuwait, up to Resolution 687, contributed to restoring the country’s freedom, independence, and territorial integrity.
He affirmed that this experience demonstrated the UN’s capacity to protect state sovereignty, deter aggression, restore rights, and safeguard international peace and security, calling for this model to remain the norm for international action rather than an exception in its history.
In a related context, Al-Saadi reiterated Kuwait’s strong condemnation and denunciation of Iranian attacks carried out since last February using ballistic and cruise missiles and drones, despite Kuwait’s non-involvement in the ongoing regional conflict and its refusal to allow its territory, airspace, or territorial waters to be used for any military operations against Iran. He pointed out that these attacks repeatedly targeted civilian objects and critical infrastructure, including Kuwait International Airport, power and water stations, and oil facilities, resulting in martyrs and civilian casualties, injuries, and severe material and economic damage.
He referred to the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2817, which affirmed the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Kuwait, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, and Jordan, noting that attacks continued after its adoption by Iran and its loyal militias in Iraq. He added that Kuwait has been keen to document these attacks and keep the Security Council informed through successive official letters, reaffirming its commitment to the full implementation of Resolution 2817 and the necessity of applying a single, consistent standard in respecting and implementing resolutions of international legitimacy without selectivity.
On the Yemeni issue, Al-Saadi affirmed Kuwait’s support for the legitimate Yemeni government, as well as Yemen’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, and reiterated its full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the face of Houthi militia attacks on its territory, targeting civilians, civilian objects, and navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait. He stressed that the security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an integral part of the security of Kuwait and the GCC countries, calling on the Security Council to ensure the full implementation of its relevant resolutions, particularly Resolutions 2216 and 2722, to put an end to these attacks and preserve the security and stability of the region.
Regarding the Palestinian issue, Al-Saaidi stated that the continued failure to implement international legal resolutions constitutes a clear example of the gap between the adoption and implementation of such resolutions, despite decades having passed since their issuance. He affirmed the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and to establish their independent state on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, noting the ongoing incomplete implementation of Security Council Resolution 2334, which called for the immediate and complete cessation of all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory. He called for the consistent and non-selective application of United Nations resolutions, applying the same standards to all issues and countries, thereby enhancing the credibility of international legitimacy and safeguarding the legitimate rights of peoples. Concluding Kuwait’s statement, Al-Saaidi reaffirmed the State of Kuwait’s steadfast commitment to the UN Charter and the international rule-based order, calling for a renewed collective commitment to fully and consistently respect and implement the Organization’s resolutions. He emphasized that the challenge facing the United Nations does not lie in its ability to adopt more resolutions, but rather in bridging the gap between their adoption and implementation, thereby strengthening the confidence of states and peoples in the UN system and its capacity to uphold international peace and security. (End) A.S.T. / M.M.J.
