LONDON
\nThe UK\u2019s Middle East Minister Lord Tariq Ahmad has departed for another Middle East tour with the aim of making progress toward a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
\nAhmad will arrive in Kuwait on Monday where he is set to meet with Kuwait\u2019s Foreign Minister Ambassador Abdullah Al-Yahya as well as the Palestinian Ambassador to Kuwait Rami Tahboub.
\nHe will also co-chair the 20th UK-Kuwait Joint Steering Group alongside Kuwait\u2019s Deputy Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.
\nThe UK minister will then head to Saudi Arabia to meet with the Kingdom\u2019s Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
\nDiscussions will focus on how to alleviate the desperate humanitarian situation in Gaza and achieve an immediate pause in fighting that would lead to a long-term, permanent ceasefire.
\nAhmad will also highlight the UK\u2019s efforts to counter Houthi attacks against international shipping in the Red Sea.
\n\u201cWe want to see an end to the fighting in Gaza as soon as possible, and it is clear that wider escalation and instability in the region is in nobody\u2019s interests,\u201d Ahmad said.
\n\u201cOur engagement with partners in the Middle East, including Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, is absolutely central to efforts towards achieving a sustainable, permanent ceasefire in Gaza and building wider regional security,\u201d he added.
\nThe minister will also discuss the UK\u2019s Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme, which will allow unlimited visits for Gulf Cooperation Council and Jordanian nationals to the UK over two years.
\nThis visit is part of a series of engagements in the region by the minister, following recent visits to Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
\nUK Foreign Secretary David Cameron has also visited the region several times, including Oman and Saudi Arabia, to build on the UK\u2019s call for an immediate pause in fighting to get aid in and hostages out, followed by a long-term ceasefire that prevents destruction, fighting, and loss of life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LONDON The UK\u2019s Middle East Minister Lord Tariq Ahmad has departed for another Middle East tour with the aim of making progress toward a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. Ahmad will arrive in Kuwait on Monday where he is set to meet with Kuwait\u2019s Foreign Minister Ambassador Abdullah Al-Yahya as well as the Palestinian Ambassador to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":386804,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-386788","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n