Kuwait has delivered crude oil and diesel worth $200 million to Egypt as part of a $4 billion aid package to bolster the faltering economy, a newspaper reports on Sunday.
Two tankers, one carrying around 100,000 tonnes of diesel and the other 1.1 million barrels of crude, have docked in Egypt, according to Al-Rai newspaper, citing Kuwaiti oil sources.
The emirate announced on Wednesday that it would provide $4 billion in urgent aid to Egypt, half a deposit in the Egyptian central bank and the remainder made up of a grant of $1 billion and $1 billion in free oil and oil products.
Neighbouring Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have pledged $5 billion and $3 billion, respectively, bringing the total promised by Gulf Arab states since the Egyptian army ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi earlier this month to $12 billion.
Members of the Kuwaiti parliament and politicians have criticised the government for granting Egypt such a large amount.
In response, Kuwaiti Vice Prime Minister and Finance Minister Mustafa Al-Shamali told the Kuwaiti Al-Rai newspaper that the aid will reach Egypt by the end of this week or at the start of next week.
“The government has the final say,” Al-Rai quotes the minister. “Egypt deserves all the best and support from Arab brothers,” he added.
Al-Shamali’s declarations were met by more anger from activists and politicians in Kuwait. “The government’s decision to give Egypt the grant might have justifications in foreign policy, but the minister’s declaration is provocative and inappropriate,” Sabr news website quotes writer and Kuwait University Professor Salah Al-Fadli.
Ahram.org
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