President of International Court of Justice at the Hague Abdulqawi Yusuf has heaped praise on Kuwaiti Tareq Al-Shumaimry, outgoing Chair of the Permanent Court of Arbitration's Budget Committee, for his key role in strengthening cooperation between ICJ and the State of Kuwait.

This appreciation by the president of the principal judicial organ of the UN was expressed at a farewell luncheon hosted on Monday by Yusuf in honour of Al-Shumaimry, who is also a counsellor at Kuwait Embassy, at the end of the Kuwaiti diplomat's tenure.

In a statement to the Kuwait news agency (KUNA) Tuesday, Al-Shumaimry said he was first nominated to the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) Financial Committee as a member in 2013. Subsequently he was elected as the Chair of the PCA's Financial Committee and then as the Chair of the Budget Committee which oversees the Budget of the PCA which is the Apex Arbitration body of the United Nations. In his commendation letter to Al-Shumaimry, the President of the ICJ said, "there is a better understanding in Kuwait today of the functions and role of our Court, thanks to the various important visits of Kuwaiti personalities that you have organised."

He listed the visits by the Kuwait Speaker of Parliament, Kuwait Minister of Justice, Kuwait Members of Parliament and members of the Kuwait Bar Association to the Hague.

"At the Court, we have also learned a lot, thanks to these visits, about the judicial and political system in Kuwait and the important peace making role your country and its leaders play in the Gulf region. The success of these visits and the resulting cooperation between the State of Kuwait and our Court owes a lot to your personal commitment and dedication for which we are grateful," noted the letter.

The ICJ President was scheduled to deliver the keynote address in Kuwait during an International Arbitration Conference in March organised by Al-Shumaimry and the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce but was postponed due to Covid-19. Judge Yusuf said he will participate in the conference when it is to be held next year. He also stated that he is looking forward to visit Kuwait to meet with its leadership. "I thank you once more for the important contribution you have made during your tenure at the Permanent Court of Arbitration to a better understanding and cooperation between Kuwait and the International Court of Justice in the pursuit of peace and harmony among nations, and wish you great success in your future endeavours," concluded the letter.