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Kuwait, Iraq ink major accords
BAGHDAD: Iraqi and Kuwaiti officials, following marathon talks, signed yesterday minutes of the meeting of the higher Iraqi-Kuwaiti commission and two accords, one stipulating formation of a cooperation committee and the other regulating navigation through Abdullah waterway. The two agreements were signed by Kuwait’s Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari. Talks between the two sides, held within framework of the supreme joint commission and subcommittees, lasted for 12 hours.
Zebari said at a news conference with his Kuwaiti counterpart that meetings of the second session of the common committee were crowned with record success and progress on various genuine and major issues concerning the two sides. All such subjects were extensively pondered. He added that the signed minutes stipulated issues linked with international obligations in addition to various other topics that require cooperation at the political, economic and commercial levels. Zebari indicated at an agreement for regulation of the higher commission, and another accord regarding navigation through Abdullah water passageway, according to international resolutions that organize such marine movement. He also noted that HH the Prime Minister of Kuwait and other Kuwaiti officials would visit Iraq ahead of the yearend, to follow up on these issues and several memoranda.
Zebari said the minutes addressed double-taxation, encouraging investments and commercial and technical cooperation. On Kuwait’s Mubarak Port, Zebari said the Kuwaiti side assured the Iraqi officials that this mega venture would not affect navigation in the region. “We have agreed on a number of protocols and cooperation in various sectors, and these protocols will be signed during the upcoming visit of the Kuwaiti prime minister to Baghdad in the last quarter of this year,” he said. The two sides discussed the issue of war compensations extensively, he said, adding that they agreed on holding the third round of the commission in Kuwait in March next year. Elaborating, Zebari affirmed that Iraq would not pose a threat to other countries in the region. “Iraq’s power won’t be a threat to anyone, but it will be might for goodness and not evil,” he added.
For his part, the Kuwaiti foreign minister said the two sides worked diligently to hammer out the agreements. “What has been achieved constitutes crowning of the visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to Baghdad and the visit of the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki to Kuwait as well as the joint desire of the two sides for establishing best possible relations for service of interests of the two brotherly peoples,” Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid said. On the port venture, the minister re-affirmed that Kuwait will ensure that such ventures will not harm neighboring countries. The joint commission, formed early last year, held its first meeting in Kuwait in March 2011. Senior Kuwaiti and Iraqi officials took part in the meetings in the Iraqi capital. – KUNA
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BAGHDAD: Iraqi and Kuwaiti officials, following marathon talks, signed yesterday minutes of the meeting of the higher Iraqi-Kuwaiti commission and two accords, one stipulating formation of a cooperation committee and the other regulating navigation through Abdullah waterway. The two agreements were signed by Kuwait’s Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari. Talks between the two sides, held within framework of the supreme joint commission and subcommittees, lasted for 12 hours.
Zebari said at a news conference with his Kuwaiti counterpart that meetings of the second session of the common committee were crowned with record success and progress on various genuine and major issues concerning the two sides. All such subjects were extensively pondered. He added that the signed minutes stipulated issues linked with international obligations in addition to various other topics that require cooperation at the political, economic and commercial levels. Zebari indicated at an agreement for regulation of the higher commission, and another accord regarding navigation through Abdullah water passageway, according to international resolutions that organize such marine movement. He also noted that HH the Prime Minister of Kuwait and other Kuwaiti officials would visit Iraq ahead of the yearend, to follow up on these issues and several memoranda.
Zebari said the minutes addressed double-taxation, encouraging investments and commercial and technical cooperation. On Kuwait’s Mubarak Port, Zebari said the Kuwaiti side assured the Iraqi officials that this mega venture would not affect navigation in the region. “We have agreed on a number of protocols and cooperation in various sectors, and these protocols will be signed during the upcoming visit of the Kuwaiti prime minister to Baghdad in the last quarter of this year,” he said. The two sides discussed the issue of war compensations extensively, he said, adding that they agreed on holding the third round of the commission in Kuwait in March next year. Elaborating, Zebari affirmed that Iraq would not pose a threat to other countries in the region. “Iraq’s power won’t be a threat to anyone, but it will be might for goodness and not evil,” he added.
For his part, the Kuwaiti foreign minister said the two sides worked diligently to hammer out the agreements. “What has been achieved constitutes crowning of the visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to Baghdad and the visit of the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki to Kuwait as well as the joint desire of the two sides for establishing best possible relations for service of interests of the two brotherly peoples,” Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid said. On the port venture, the minister re-affirmed that Kuwait will ensure that such ventures will not harm neighboring countries. The joint commission, formed early last year, held its first meeting in Kuwait in March 2011. Senior Kuwaiti and Iraqi officials took part in the meetings in the Iraqi capital. – KUNA
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