KUWAIT: State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Radek Rubeš, expressed his pleasure at visiting the State of Kuwait, noting that this marked his second visit to the country, following his earlier trip two years ago to attend bilateral meetings with the Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During his participation at the EU–Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit, he commended Kuwait for its outstanding organization and gracious hospitality.
Speaking to the press on the sidelines, Rubeš affirmed that bilateral relations between the Czech Republic and Kuwait are excellent and continuously developing, highlighting that both nations are working closely to strengthen cooperation across various fields. Commenting on Kuwait’s regional and international role in promoting peace, the Czech official praised Kuwait’s positive and constructive contributions to regional stability, noting that the joint summit provided an important platform to discuss key regional and international issues, including the Russian war on Ukraine, the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and matters concerning Iran and Iraq.
Regarding the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the GCC and the EU, he said that the Czech Republic is among the strongest supporters of accelerating the signing and implementation of the agreement. He stressed that his country firmly believes in the principle of free trade, given its heavy reliance on economic openness as a landlocked nation. Rubeš also reaffirmed the Czech Republic’s support for ongoing discussions on granting visa exemption for Kuwaiti citizens traveling to Schengen countries, stating that his government believes freedom of movement helps strengthen ties between peoples and enhance cooperation.
On the Palestinian situation, Rubeš reiterated his country’s firm commitment to the two-state solution as the only viable path to achieving a just and lasting peace, expressing hope for tangible progress in this direction. He also praised Kuwait’s leading humanitarian role both regionally and internationally, emphasizing the potential for expanding cooperation between the two countries in the humanitarian field, particularly in addressing humanitarian crises in the Middle East and Africa. He concluded that the meetings held in Kuwait over the past two days were highly productive, contributing to the alignment of visions and the strengthening of the EU–GCC partnership.