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Kuwaiti media delegation meets Al-Maliki – Amir participation made Arab summit in Iraq successful
Saturday, April 28, 2012
BAGHDAD: His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s visit to Iraq left a positive mark on Iraqis and his participation in the Arab summit made the event successful, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki affirmed here yesterday. Al-Maliki’s statement came during his reception of a Kuwaiti media delegation visiting Iraq. The Iraqi prime minister said that “His Highness the Amir’s visit to the country and his participation in the Arab summit was a source of joy and pride to Iraqis.”
He also thanked His Highness the Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah for his hospitality and reception during his visit to Kuwait a few weeks back, revealing that there would be a meeting for the two countries’ joint committee today to discuss issues of mutual interest. Al-Maliki said that the Arab summit’s resolution called for bolstering ties amongst Arab nations on all possible levels, adding that the visit of the Kuwaiti media delegation was part of such goals.
In regards to relations, Al-Maliki said that ties between Iraq and Kuwait were based on brotherhood and understanding, stressing that what have occurred in the past was a source of discontent to current Iraqi government and people. The Iraqi top official called on Arab media and business to operate in Iraq, noting that the situation in the country was improving on a day-to-day basis and this could be witnessed in the return of Arab diplomatic missions to the country and the holding of the Arab summit in Iraq.
Maliki also touched on the issue of Iraq’s implementation of UN resolutions in relation with the liberation of Kuwait, affirming that Iraq and Kuwait would be discussing the issue during the joint committee meeting to be held tomorrow in Bagdad. Asked about the obstacles preventing investors, namely Kuwait, from venturing into Iraq, the prime minister said that ever since of the Saddam regime times, Iraq had been recovering on a slow basis, indicating that “Iraq has huge oil reserves which enabled the country to increase production gradually.” He indicated that the increase of oil production and other lucrative opportunities in Iraq would help to attract investors from around the global and hopefully from Kuwait.
Kuwaiti private sector could seek to invest in Iraq and especially in the iron, metal, and reconstruction industry industries, said Al-Maliki and added that Kuwaiti companies should be the first to open investments in Iraq. On the matter of the closure of the Safwan border checkpoint with Kuwait, the Iraqi Prime Minister said that the action was taken to enable to renovate the facility due to increasing incoming commercial traffic to Iraq.
Attempts by the remnants of Iraqi Baath party to create tension between the two countries should be given no attention, said Al-Maliki who called on both Iraqi and Kuwaiti media outlets to both refute any allegation aimed at affecting ties. The Iraqi official also was asked about the Iraqi stance towards the issue of the three UAE Islands occupied by Iran and Tehran’s nuclear file, which he said that Baghdad was keen on finding a solution to the matters at hand, pointing out that the Iraqi capital would be hosting the 5+1 group meeting on the Iranian nuclear file.
As for the Iranian and UAE issue, Al-Maliki stressed that the current Iraqi presidency of the current session of the Arab League would aim at defusing the tension between Abu Dhabi and Tehran. Regarding the priorities in his remaining tenure as prime minister, Al-Maliki hoped that he would reach an agreement in regards to pending issues such as the Iraqi debt to Kuwait, the Algiers’ accord of 1975 on sharing water resources with Iran, as well as the Iranian-Arab relations and reaching a middle ground on issues of dispute.
“Iraq does not want to head to war due to issues that could be solved by talks,” said Al-Maliki, adding that any dispute could be solved via dialogue. Iraq’s foreign relations had been developing tremendously, said Al-Maliki, noting that commercial exchange with countries like Turkey had reached $15 billion. He went on saying that Iraq’s current policy was to evade any attempts to interfere in the issues of other countries but welcome any kind of cooperation with all nations of the world to achieve both the interests of the Iraqi people and others.
Whether Iraq would join the GCC, the prime minister stated that “the GCC countries and Iraq were members of the Arab League and they are working very hard to make the league an institute that would be of economic and political strength,” adding that Iraq would be working with others and maybe join Arab and non-Arab institutions when the country become ready for such feat.
On the issue of Syria, Iraqi Prime Minister Al-Maliki said that he lived around 16 years in the neighboring Arab country, indicating that the situation there should not be handled via a “military” solution. He feared that the Syrian crisis would evolve into a situation where the country is divided to those who are loyal to the regime and the opposition.
Al-Maliki hoped that the situation would not lead to effecting other nations including Iraq, adding that he was eager to see the situation being resolved for the sake of the Syrian people. “Iraqi will not prevent relief aid from entering Syria; however, no arms would smuggled into the neighboring through the Iraqi boarders,” stressed the Iraqi prime minister. He called on parties involved in the crisis to halt any kind of military backup and resort to dialogue to end the Syrian situation. — KUNA
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Saturday, April 28, 2012
BAGHDAD: His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s visit to Iraq left a positive mark on Iraqis and his participation in the Arab summit made the event successful, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki affirmed here yesterday. Al-Maliki’s statement came during his reception of a Kuwaiti media delegation visiting Iraq. The Iraqi prime minister said that “His Highness the Amir’s visit to the country and his participation in the Arab summit was a source of joy and pride to Iraqis.”
He also thanked His Highness the Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah for his hospitality and reception during his visit to Kuwait a few weeks back, revealing that there would be a meeting for the two countries’ joint committee today to discuss issues of mutual interest. Al-Maliki said that the Arab summit’s resolution called for bolstering ties amongst Arab nations on all possible levels, adding that the visit of the Kuwaiti media delegation was part of such goals.
In regards to relations, Al-Maliki said that ties between Iraq and Kuwait were based on brotherhood and understanding, stressing that what have occurred in the past was a source of discontent to current Iraqi government and people. The Iraqi top official called on Arab media and business to operate in Iraq, noting that the situation in the country was improving on a day-to-day basis and this could be witnessed in the return of Arab diplomatic missions to the country and the holding of the Arab summit in Iraq.
Maliki also touched on the issue of Iraq’s implementation of UN resolutions in relation with the liberation of Kuwait, affirming that Iraq and Kuwait would be discussing the issue during the joint committee meeting to be held tomorrow in Bagdad. Asked about the obstacles preventing investors, namely Kuwait, from venturing into Iraq, the prime minister said that ever since of the Saddam regime times, Iraq had been recovering on a slow basis, indicating that “Iraq has huge oil reserves which enabled the country to increase production gradually.” He indicated that the increase of oil production and other lucrative opportunities in Iraq would help to attract investors from around the global and hopefully from Kuwait.
Kuwaiti private sector could seek to invest in Iraq and especially in the iron, metal, and reconstruction industry industries, said Al-Maliki and added that Kuwaiti companies should be the first to open investments in Iraq. On the matter of the closure of the Safwan border checkpoint with Kuwait, the Iraqi Prime Minister said that the action was taken to enable to renovate the facility due to increasing incoming commercial traffic to Iraq.
Attempts by the remnants of Iraqi Baath party to create tension between the two countries should be given no attention, said Al-Maliki who called on both Iraqi and Kuwaiti media outlets to both refute any allegation aimed at affecting ties. The Iraqi official also was asked about the Iraqi stance towards the issue of the three UAE Islands occupied by Iran and Tehran’s nuclear file, which he said that Baghdad was keen on finding a solution to the matters at hand, pointing out that the Iraqi capital would be hosting the 5+1 group meeting on the Iranian nuclear file.
As for the Iranian and UAE issue, Al-Maliki stressed that the current Iraqi presidency of the current session of the Arab League would aim at defusing the tension between Abu Dhabi and Tehran. Regarding the priorities in his remaining tenure as prime minister, Al-Maliki hoped that he would reach an agreement in regards to pending issues such as the Iraqi debt to Kuwait, the Algiers’ accord of 1975 on sharing water resources with Iran, as well as the Iranian-Arab relations and reaching a middle ground on issues of dispute.
“Iraq does not want to head to war due to issues that could be solved by talks,” said Al-Maliki, adding that any dispute could be solved via dialogue. Iraq’s foreign relations had been developing tremendously, said Al-Maliki, noting that commercial exchange with countries like Turkey had reached $15 billion. He went on saying that Iraq’s current policy was to evade any attempts to interfere in the issues of other countries but welcome any kind of cooperation with all nations of the world to achieve both the interests of the Iraqi people and others.
Whether Iraq would join the GCC, the prime minister stated that “the GCC countries and Iraq were members of the Arab League and they are working very hard to make the league an institute that would be of economic and political strength,” adding that Iraq would be working with others and maybe join Arab and non-Arab institutions when the country become ready for such feat.
On the issue of Syria, Iraqi Prime Minister Al-Maliki said that he lived around 16 years in the neighboring Arab country, indicating that the situation there should not be handled via a “military” solution. He feared that the Syrian crisis would evolve into a situation where the country is divided to those who are loyal to the regime and the opposition.
Al-Maliki hoped that the situation would not lead to effecting other nations including Iraq, adding that he was eager to see the situation being resolved for the sake of the Syrian people. “Iraqi will not prevent relief aid from entering Syria; however, no arms would smuggled into the neighboring through the Iraqi boarders,” stressed the Iraqi prime minister. He called on parties involved in the crisis to halt any kind of military backup and resort to dialogue to end the Syrian situation. — KUNA
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