The Belgian-Kuwaiti Parliamentary Friendship Group met in Brussels Monday to review the progress of ties and cooperation between the two countries and exchange views on regional and international developments.

The parliamentarians described relations between the two countries as very good and discussed ways to further deepen them.

The two sides discussed the latest developments in Syria, Iran, Bahrain, Yemen as well as the situation of immigrants and Muslims in Belgium and Europe and the threat of the rise of extreme right wing groups in Europe.

The six-member Kuwait delegation, led by member of the National Assembly Dr Jamaan Al-Harbash, held the first meeting with Herman De Croo, member of the foreign relations committee and former speaker of the Belgian Parliament.

"We had a very frank meeting and the questions put by the Kuwaiti delegation were quite straight", De Croo told KUNA and KTV after the meeting.

He said the Kuwaiti MPs asked how Belgium was dealing with the issues of illegal immigration, stateless people, about its position towards Irans nuclear programme, and Syria.

"I explained our positions and told them that I am a member of parliament since 45 years and I did a lot to increase the understanding with the world of Islam," said the 70 year old De Croo.

He is the oldest member of the Belgian parliament and has held several government posts, including minister for education and transport.

De Croo said he initiated the teaching of Islam in Belgian schools and also the creation of a mosque at Brussels airport to promote democracy and tolerance between Belgium and the Muslim world.

When he was the speaker of parliament, De Croos said he visited Kuwait and noted that Belgium was very active in supporting it when invaded in the early 90s.

"Relations between the two countries are good and it was a very good meeting," he added.

Al-Harbash, chair of the Group, said that the meeting is part of the Kuwait parliaments efforts to promote friendships with parliaments of other nations.

He noted that Belgium played a noble and important role during the occupation and liberation of Kuwait and it also has a positive position on the Palestine issue.

Belgium voted in favour of the recognition of a Palestinian state and also in favour of a seat for Palestine in UNESCO.

Al Harbash said Belgium has also a very progressive European position regarding the issue of the Syrian peoples revolution.

He said that todays meeting enriched the experiences of the Kuwait parliamentarians and contributed in explaining the issues of the Gulf region and the support to the revolution in Syria and its people.

They also spoke about the situation of Muslims in Belgium and about the rise of extreme right wing groups in the country as well as Europe, while the majority in Belgium are against this trend, he said.

Al Harbash underlined that this right wing extremism is a threat to international peace and security.

Abdullah Al Barghash, the vice-chair of the Group, said they were very happy to visit Belgium and to meet and exchange views with their hugely-experienced Belgian colleagues.

"We spoke about the ties that link Belgium and Kuwait and issues of mutual interest such as stateless persons and the position of the Belgian parliament towards Syria, and we found that their position is similar to ours in condemning the crimes being committed in the country and supporting to the people," he said.

They also spoke about the situation in Iran and the dangers posed by its nuclear programme, and we noted the similarity between the two positions, he said.

The Kuwait parliamentarians held a second meeting with Patrick Morau, deputy head of the foreign relations committee in the Belgian parliament and Belgiums representative at the International Parliamentary Union.

"We have good parliamentary relations with Kuwait and as parliamentarians, we can speak openly without taboo," Morau told KUNA and Kuwait TV.

"They had a lot of questions, for example they asked about the ban of the niqab in Belgium. We explained our position and they explained their position. We now know Kuwait better than before," he said.

"We are going to continue our contacts and perhaps send a Belgian parliamentary delegation to Kuwait to see how democracy is working there. Relations are very good," added Moriau.

On his part, MP Mohammad Al Kalifah said they discussed many issues in particular developments in Egypt, Syria, Yemen and Bahrain.

They assured the Belgian side that the democratic system in Kuwait determines the relations between the ruler and the people and safeguards the rights of the people, he said.

They also explained to the Belgian MPs that Iran has expansionist designs in the Gulf and to bring the Gulf under its influence like it did in Iraq, said Al Khalifah.

"We have good parliament, political and trade relations with Belgium and we should use this good relations to support the Arab cause in particular the Palestine question," he added.

The Kuwait delegation also includes Nayef Abdulaziz Al-Ajmi, Salem AL-Azmi, and Munawer Al-Azmi.

The Kuwaiti deputies are scheduled to meet members of the upper house of the Belgian parliament and the Senate on Tuesday.