Kuwait welcomes US stance on two-state solution

By Gulsen Topcu

KUWAIT

Kuwait welcomed early Friday U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's statement regarding the Palestinian-Israeli conflict that reiterates American support for the two-state solution.

A written statement published by Kuwait's Foreign Ministry "welcomed the vision raised" by Kerry on "finding a final settlement" to the protracted conflict.

"Kerry's suggestions are in keeping with the provisions of the relevant UN resolutions and the Arab peace initiative and lay a viable groundwork for a final solution," a ministry official told KUNA News Agency.

The source, who cannot be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media, called on the concerned parties to "respond positively to Kerry's ideas" and "work constructively for reaching a fair, permanent and comprehensive peace in the Middle East region and beyond”.

Kerry said Wednesday the future of a two-state solution is “in serious jeopardy”, defending U.S. abstention last week on a UN Security Council vote condemning Israeli settlements.

“The United States did, in fact, vote in accordance with our values, just as previous U.S. administrations have done at the Security Council before us,” Kerry said at a news conference where he outlined the Barack Obama administration’s vision for Middle East peace.

Kerry said the vote was aimed at "preserving the two-state solution" noting that two separate states "the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians".

Kerry also defended the American administration's commitment to Israel.

"No American administration has done more for Israel's security than Barack Obama's," he said. "The Israeli prime minister himself has noted our unprecedented military and intelligence cooperation. Our military exercises are more advanced than ever.”