Opening Remarks by EU Ambassador Anne Koistinen at the first EU-Kuwait Culture Forum
Your Excellencies, Dr. Mohammad Al-Jassar, Secretary General of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, Distinguished Guests, Esteemed Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is an honour to stand in front of you today at the opening of the first EU-Kuwait Culture Forum. I would like to begin by expressing my sincere gratitude to H.E. Mr. Abdulrahman Bedah Al-Mutairi, the Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs for sponsoring this event, and to the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters and Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah for joining us in celebrating the strong EU-Kuwait cultural relations and, most importantly, making this event a reality. I would also like to thank all the speakers, including those who have come all the way from Europe, and express my appreciation to all the team who has been working hard behind the scenes to ensure the success of this event.
As Kuwait proudly holds the title of Arab Capital of Culture and Media this year, I am equally proud that this forum stands as one of the flagship events of the Europe Month celebrations this year.
Since I made Kuwait my home two years ago, it has been fascinating to discover the many cultural links that exist between Kuwait and the European Union across many fields. I was firstly impressed by the way Kuwaiti people appreciate Europe and know Europe, including our diverse European culture. Most recently, I was privileged to visit the beautiful island of Failaka, in a field trip organized by the National Council and the French research team two weeks ago. There, I was also impressed to discover there the many connections that have tied our geographies and our peoples through centuries.
And what makes me more proud of as the European Union Ambassador in this beautiful country is that, every year, there are archaeological teamsfrom EU Member States such as France, Denmark, Slovakia, Poland and Italy that come to work together with the Kuwaiti teams in exploring and preserving Kuwait’s rich historical heritage. Among these findings, European and Kuwaiti archaeologists have discovered a beautiful Hellenistic city in Failaka, which proves that connections between Europe and Kuwait have endured millennia!
But I would not like to focus only on archaeology, as there are also many existing cultural exchanges between Europe and Kuwait across all fields of arts, music, architecture and design. This proves that the cultural ties between EU Member States and Kuwait are rich and multi-layered. For instance, just to give some concrete examples in the field of architecture, many European designers have contributed to shaping Kuwait’s modern urban landscape since the 1960s. Few days ago, we also saw the successful inauguration of Kuwait’s National Pavilion “Kaynuna” in the 19th International Architecture Exhibition at the Venice Biennale.
All these exchanges help weave a meaningful cultural tapestry—one that goes far beyond diplomacy. They are the stories of Kuwaiti and European students, curators, scholars, and artists who engage, inspire, and learn from one another. They remind us that culture is not just a reflection of who we were—but a living expression of who we are, and who we aspire to be.
As we gather here at the Amricani Cultural Centre, a sanctuary of history and art, we are reminded of the generous and enduring power of culture to bridge divides and inspire communities.
From ancient maritime trade routes to the preservation of oral traditions and archaeological treasures, Kuwait’s cultural heritage is a treasure for the world. As such, the European Union is open to continue supporting the excellent cultural cooperation between its Member States and Kuwait, and we are ready to share our experience and our technical expertise.
The European Union values its long-standing friendship with Kuwait not only because it is grounded in mutual respect and a shared vision for peace, stability and multilateralism in this fragmented word, but also because our relations are built upon solid ties between our cultures and our peoples. Together, let us reaffirm our dedication to preserving our shared heritage, to boost our cultural exchange and to continue building together a shared future for our younger generations.
Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the European Union, I extend a sincere gratitude to our partners in this event, and I wish everyone an inspiring journey into the shared heritage and the stimulating cultural dialogue between Europe and Kuwait.
Thank you very much. Shukran jazilan.