Sheikh Sabah: Kuwait doesn't wish to see presidential elections in Syria

First Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah said Kuwait did not wish to see presidential elections in Syria, while President Bashar Al-Assad's candidacy would undermine political endeavors for transition. "We don't wish to see presidential elections in Syria in June next," Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled told a session of the Arab Media Forum. Al-Assad's candidacy for the elections "will undermine the political endeavors and the agreement (communique) of the Geneva I, which focuses on creation of a transitional executive authority to rule Syria," he said. The senior Kuwaiti official said the escalation of unrest in Syria would affect the whole region, including Kuwait. He said the devastating destruction in Syria and hostilities would extend to all regional countries, including Iraq "which is steps away from Kuwait." The conflict in Syria, which broke out in March 2011, killed some 150,000 people and displaced millions others either internally or in refugee camps in neighboring countries. Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled, meanwhile, expressed keenness to uniting Arabs and boosting common Arab action. He highlighted the endeavors of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to healing the wounds among the Arabian Gulf countries. His Highness the Amir's endeavors "were welcomed by the GCC leaders to overcome all obstacles facing the Gulf march," he added. "Differences in points of view are natural, but the most important thing is how to deal with them and address them," said Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled. The 33-year-old Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), he added, was capable of "containing all troubles." Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled, however, said a unit has been set up in the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) to track "suspecious bank accounts" that might be used to finance terrorism. Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled said he was deeply troubled at the dispute between Egypt and Qatar. He added that His Highness the Amir was trying to narrow the gap between the two countries. He noted that Qatari Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Attiya has recently visited Kuwait and announced Doha's support to the choices of the Egyptian people.