Kuwait condemns Lebanese minister's ‘promise of rebuilding grain silos’

By Idris Okuduci

BEIRUT (AA) - Kuwait condemned on Saturday comments by a Lebanese minister who noted the “reminder of the promise to rebuild the Beirut grain silos," destroyed in a port blast in 2020.

Foreign Ministry said in a statement Lebanon's Commerce Minister Emin Salam's remarks stressed the "significance” of his comments that coincided with the third anniversary of the tragic Beirut Port explosion, where hundreds were killed and wheat silos at the port built by the Arab Economic Development Fund of Kuwait in 1969, were destroyed.

The statement said Salam's grasp of Kuwait's constitutional and institutional decision-making process was lacking and the stance "contradicted" political principles.

Kuwait's Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah noted his country’s history of supporting “friendly” nations but said “no interference in internal affairs or decision-making would be tolerated.”

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati acknowledged his country’s principle of non-interference in the affairs of other countries, according to the Beirut-based National News Agency.

Salam recently recalled Kuwait's late emir's efforts to rebuild the grain silos.

He conveyed the message to Kuwait's current emir, emphasizing the “importance” of completing the initiative for Lebanon and its people.

A huge explosion rocked Beirut Port on Aug 4, 2020, caused by a fire in a warehouse storing explosive materials.

The blast resulted in more than 235 deaths, 6,000 injuries and the displacement of 300,000 people.

It destroyed the vital Beirut Silos, which had a grain storage capacity of 120,000 tons.

At the time, Kuwait's Ambassador Abdullah al-Kenani, had announced the intention to rebuild the strategic wheat storage silo to assist Lebanon.

*Writing by Necva Tastan