اخبار الكويت- وطن نيوز
اخر اخبار الكويت اليوم – اخبار الكويت العاجلة
W6nnews.com ==== وطن === تاريخ النشر – 2026-06-11 21:58:00
The French ambassador to the country, Olivier Gauvin, confirmed that France has proven, once again, its support for Kuwait in the face of the security challenges witnessed in the region, stressing that his country has moved since the first days of the crisis to provide direct military defensive support to Kuwait, in parallel with intense diplomatic efforts aimed at containing the escalation and preserving the security and stability of the Gulf. In an interview with Al-Jarida, Govin explained that Kuwait can rely on its country to confront Iranian threats, pointing out that Paris views Kuwait as a strategic partner and reliable friend. He stressed that France will continue its full support for Kuwait’s security and sovereignty, in addition to its efforts to consolidate the ceasefire and prevent any developments that may threaten regional stability or freedom of international navigation. At the level of bilateral relations, the French ambassador pointed out the continued great demand by Kuwaitis for France, which has maintained its position as the most attractive tourist destination for visitors in the world, explaining that the French embassy in Kuwait receives hundreds of visa applications daily, while the multiple-entry visa system, which may last up to 5 years for Kuwaiti citizens, continues to operate. Govin addressed the most prominent regional and international issues, stressing that France still considers the two-state solution the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis. He revealed a new conference hosted by Paris today, to support dialogue between Palestinian and Israeli civil societies, within the framework of French efforts aimed at maintaining the international momentum launched by the “New York Declaration” and the French-Saudi initiative to implement the two-state solution. He also stressed the need to stop violence and settlement, improve the humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip, and ensure that humanitarian aid reaches civilians without obstacles… The following is the text of the interview: • In conjunction with the existing security developments, what is France doing to contribute to bringing peace and stability to Kuwait and the Gulf region? – Our Kuwaiti partners know that they can rely on France. When Kuwait is threatened, France stands by its side. This commitment has been embodied in practice through the deployment of important and strong defensive military support since the early days of the conflict, and this support continues to this day alongside the Kuwaiti forces. For reasons related to the security of our soldiers and their brothers in the Kuwaiti Armed Forces, as well as to preserve the effectiveness of the operation, we prefer not to reveal additional details in this regard. But what matters is that France moved quickly, effectively and effectively, and out of complete solidarity with Kuwait. The two-state solution remains the only path to peace… and today’s Paris conference is in support of the Palestinian-Israeli dialogue. Since the outbreak of the conflict, France’s position has not changed. We condemn the Iranian attacks, and fully support our partners in the Gulf, especially Kuwait, and we continue to harness our diplomatic efforts to search for ways to dialogue and reduce escalation. The priority today remains to consolidate the ceasefire that has been in effect since the eighth of last April. It is necessary to avoid any new escalation that could have devastating consequences for the region and for Europe as well. And permanently re-ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz represents a fundamental goal. As the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, explained during the conference that France and the United Kingdom participated in organizing last April 17 with the participation of more than fifty countries, we are ready to contribute to a multilateral mission of a peaceful nature. This mission will be purely defensive and independent of the military operations carried out by the warring parties, and aims exclusively to restore freedom of navigation in the strait, to be deployed as soon as appropriate conditions exist for that. From this standpoint came the deployment of the French naval air group led by the aircraft carrier “Charles de Gaulle” in The region, separately from ongoing military operations, with the aim of reducing the time required to implement this international initiative. At the same time, we continue our diplomatic efforts to reach a strong and lasting settlement of the conflict. Throughout the crisis, the French authorities, whether at the level of presidents or ministers, maintained contacts with all parties concerned, including Iran, with the aim of reducing tensions. Paris adheres to the peace path and calls for saving Gaza from the humanitarian catastrophe and fully opening the crossings. We believe that all dimensions of the Iranian threat must be addressed through permanent and sustainable solutions, whether related to the Iranian nuclear program, the missile program, or activities that lead to destabilization in the region. Any future agreement must be solid and sustainable. And verifiable, ensuring that Iran does not possess nuclear weapons at any time. On a broader scale, France remains committed to supporting regional stability. Visas and tourism in France What about the reception of travel visa applicants in Kuwait? – I am pleased that last year I opened the new “Capago” center after the completion of its development and complete renovation work. This center is not just a place to submit visa applications, but rather represents the first step in the traveler’s journey to France. Therefore, we make sure that the visitor discovers, from the moment of his first contact with us, the level of professionalism, quality of services and hospitality that distinguish France.• How many visa applications do you receive daily? – The visa section at the embassy currently processes between 200 and 250 visa applications daily. During the summer season, this number may increase to about 300 requests per day. However, we are still witnessing very high demand as the summer season approaches, which confirms the attractiveness of France among Kuwaiti travelers. The need to stop violence and settlement and improve the humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip. Is it still easy to get an appointment to submit the application? – This depends on the application date during the periods of the year. Aside from the peak season, appointments are available within a relatively short period, but as the summer holidays approach, demand rises significantly, and waiting periods may be long. For this reason, we advise those wishing to travel to plan early to complete their transactions. The visa application can be submitted a maximum of six months before the date of travel. Our message is clear: the earlier the application is submitted, the easier and more comfortable the procedures become. We condemn the Iranian attacks and are working to prevent any new escalation, and our priority is to consolidate the ceasefire. How many tourists visited France last year? – In 2024 and 2025, France confirmed its position as the number one tourist destination in the world, after receiving more than 100 million international visitors. As for the In Kuwait, the consular section recorded about 36,500 visa applications during the year 2025. During the current year, demand is still very high, and we are witnessing intense activity with the approaching summer holiday season. • Can Kuwaitis obtain a 5-year visa? – Yes, since the European decision issued in 2023, Kuwaiti citizens applying for a short-stay visa have been able to obtain, even from the first application, a multiple-entry visa with a validity period of up to 36,500 visa applications during the year 2025. Up to 5 years. However, the validity period of the visa is always linked to the validity period of the passport, as it is not possible to issue a visa whose validity exceeds the validity of the passport itself. Therefore, if the passport is valid for more than 5 years, its owner can benefit from a 5-year visa, but in other cases, the duration of the visa is determined according to the validity period of the passport. • Is there a future approach to exempting Kuwaiti citizens from entry visas? All dimensions of the Iranian threat must be addressed through permanent and sustainable solutions – the rules related to visa exemption fall within the powers of the European Union, and are not the jurisdiction of a single member state. At the present time, no new decision has been taken in this regard. A tourist and medical destination • Why should a Kuwaiti choose France as a tourist, medical and study destination? – Because France offers an exceptional and diverse experience that combines rich historical heritage, rich culture, world-famous cuisine, diverse nature, and services suitable for all categories of visitors, regardless of their family circumstances or travel goals. But France is not just a tourist destination, it is also a destination for business, education, health care and innovation. For the seventh year in a row, France ranks first in Europe in Attracting foreign investments. France also receives international students in the best business and engineering schools, including many programs taught in the English language. We look forward to seeing more Kuwaiti students in these distinguished specializations that represent the sectors of the future. For many years, French medical institutions have enjoyed the trust of a large number of Kuwaiti patients and their families who go to France to receive medical care, especially in the areas of specialized treatment that require a high level of expertise and benefit from the latest medical innovations and technologies. A new conference in support of the two-state solution France will organize A new conference was held today, within the framework of its initiative to implement the two-state solution. What are the principles and objectives on which this initiative is based? Nearly a year after the adoption of the “New York Declaration” and the recognition of the State of Palestine by a large number of countries, led by France, the French Foreign Minister will gather in Paris today representatives of Israeli and Palestinian civil society who still believe in the two-state solution. As President Macron announced in his historic speech before the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 22, 2025: “We are about to lose the opportunity to achieve peace.” This conference comes as an extension of the “Call.” “Paris,” which was launched a year ago, at a time when the situation is still worrying, as the war in Gaza has caused an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe, while settlement and acts of violence continue to undermine the chances of peace day after day. The importance of this conference increases due to its coincidence with the approaching G7 summit in France, as it will allow the recommendations and proposals of the Israeli and Palestinian civil societies to be transferred to the highest political levels, thus contributing to keeping the Palestinian-Israeli issue among the priorities of the international community and enhancing efforts aimed at implementing the two-state solution. In the face of the ongoing war and humanitarian disasters in Gaza, as well as the policy of imposing facts on the ground, France seeks to maintain the diplomatic path leading to a two-state solution, as it is the only just and lasting political solution capable of meeting the aspirations of Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security. The New York Declaration, which came as a result of the French-Saudi initiative to implement the two-state solution, is an important step that should be built upon. For the first time, the declaration succeeded in gathering broad international consensus on clear principles that include condemning Hamas’ attacks, calling for its disarmament, preventing its participation in any future administration of the Gaza Strip, and supporting the return of a legitimate Palestinian authority to the Strip, in addition to a clear commitment to implementing the two-state solution. France will continue to work with steadfastness and determination to preserve and strengthen this dynamic. The work of this conference will contribute to supporting the ongoing diplomatic efforts and fuel future international obligations, especially the implementation of the New York Declaration, the Comprehensive Plan for Peace, and the Global Alliance for a Two-State Solution. Settlement Expansion • What are your measures in the face of settlement expansion and the violation of the rights of Palestinians? France’s partners in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway, on June 9, introduced new sanctions against those responsible for accelerating settlement and the escalation of violence in the West Bank. Extremist settlers, with the support of their supporters, continue to carry out attacks against Palestinians and violate their basic rights, using violence to force them to flee, destroy their property, and continue illegal settlement, which undermines the possibility of establishing a viable Palestinian state and threatens the chances of coexistence. Al-Salami. For a very long time, violent settlers have been operating with near impunity, while settlement expansion and the establishment of new settlement outposts continue with the support and backing of the Israeli government. In some cases, acts of violence are committed under the protection of Israeli security forces. We continue to call on the Israeli government to take measures to ensure that the perpetrators of violence in the West Bank are held accountable, conduct comprehensive and prompt investigations into every attack, take steps against hotspots and organizations that fuel violence, and put an end to incitement to it. At the national level, France imposed an entry ban on Israeli Minister Bezalel Smotrich, in addition to four officials in settlement organizations and 21 settlers involved in acts Violence. Smotrich openly adopts a policy of annexing the West Bank, and calls for establishing new settlements there, re-settlement in Gaza, and weakening the Palestinian Authority economically. These are policies that the international community, which is committed to the two-state solution, cannot accept. The peace plan and ceasefire are priorities in the Gaza Strip. The French ambassador considered that the priority for what the Gaza Strip is facing is to resume the implementation of the peace plan approved by the UN Security Council in its Resolution No. 2803 issued in November. The past. He added: The second phase of the ceasefire, which began with the return of the remains of the last Israeli hostage, must be embodied through: a complete cessation of raids and military operations, the disarmament of Hamas, and the widespread and immediate delivery of humanitarian aid through the United Nations, UNRWA, and non-governmental organizations. He said: Improving the humanitarian situation remains a top priority for France, as about 1.6 million Palestinians suffer from food insecurity, while the majority of hospitals have stopped working, and access to medicines and treatment has become critical. Difficulty. It is necessary to remove all obstacles that hinder the arrival of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, by reopening all crossings completely and without restrictions.
