Home
Kuwait-Iraq relations move in right direction – Forget the past, look into bright future
KUWAIT: Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister for
Energy Affairs Dr Hassan Al-Shahrastani called upon journalists and
writers in Kuwait and Iraq to focus on the interests of the people of
the two countries and publish the real picture to explain the link that
connects the two neighbours, to help overcome the past and look forward
to the peoples’ ambitions. Al-Shahrastani spoke during a reception
hosted for the Kuwaiti media delegation that visited Iraq, accompanied
by Iraqi Journalist Union leader Moayyid Al-Lami and a delegation from
the union.
He emphasized on the need to take a
responsible stand instead of raising old topics. Al-Shahrastani focused
on the necessity to concentrate on the interests of the people of the
two countries, and the political and economic aspects with a sincere
intention to overcome the past and build the East Arab countries based
on respect for freedom of expression. Al-Shahrastani said that there are
issues which can pose problems for the two countries in the Iraqi
Parliament and Kuwaiti National Assembly but also said that the right
intention helps to solve the problems.
Regarding the issue of electricity in
his country, he said that shortage in power was before 2003 and after
the fall of the previous regime, the need for electrical power has
increased greatly. He attributed this to the economy opening up and the
rising income of the Iraqi families. He added that contracts have been
signed to build new power stations with capacity that reaches 15,000
megawatts, and some of them have been functioning since last month while
others are expected to work this month. Al- Shahrastani said that these
stations are set to meet the power needs of his country.
Al-Shahrastani pointed that all these
stations operate on gas, especially since the Baghdad government intends
to increase oil production over the coming years. He pointed out that
Kuwait needs Iraqi gas like Saudi and Oman, and explained that Iraqi
government considers local demand as top priority in petrochemical
industry and only after that, supplies to its neighbours. He hailed
cooperation in the field of energy with Kuwait government as more than
one contract has been signed with (Kuwait Energy) to develop the oil
fields. One among them is the Ghazi field which is close to the Kuwaiti
border and another field is close to the Iranian border. Al-Shahrastani
added that he personally wanted to give the chance to Kuwaiti companies
which he considered as good motivation for economic integration between
both the countries.
Al-Shahrastani said oil reserves in Iraq
are now at 143 billion barrels and this figure does not include
possible reserves and expected reserves. Pointing that Iraqi government
has signed oil contracts with large international companies to increase
Iraqi production to 12 million barrels a day, he accused local
authorities in Kurdistan province of attempting to smuggle oil, and
revealed that the new attempt this time is via Turkey. About Kurdistan
province reaching agreements with foreign companies directly, he said
the Iraqi government’s stand is fixed and cannot change and is based on
the constitution which states that oil and gas is the property of all
Iraqis, and no party can contract to produce it and export it – except
through the government.
The Kuwaiti media delegation included
the Chairman of Kuwaiti Journalist Association Ahmad Yousuf Behbehani,
Editor-in-Chief of Al-Anbaa Daily Yousuf Al- Marzouq, Editor-in-Chief of
Al-Nahar Daily Emad Bu Khamseen, Chairman of Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)
Rashed Al-Ruwaished, Editor-in-Chief of Al-Rai Daily Majid Al-Ali and
Editor-in-Chief of Kuwait Times Daily Abd Al-Rahman Al-Alyan and Deputy
Editorin- Chief of Al-Yaqtha magazine Dalia Behbehani in addition to the
Director of Kuwait Journalist Association and coordinator of the
delegation visit Adnan Al-Rashed and member of Kuwait Journalist Board
of Director Jassem Kamal and photographer Majid Al-Sabeji. Iraq’s
Transportation Minister Hadi Al- Ameri expressed optimism about better
Kuwait-Iraq relations in the future and said Iraq wished to improve its
relations with the state of Kuwait at all levels to secure a better
future based on mutual interests. Speaking during a meeting with Kuwaiti
journalists’ delegation, headed by Kuwait Journalists’ Association
chief Ahmad Behbehani, Al-Ameri said, “Relations with Kuwait began
moving in the right direction and both countries should now be looking
towards a bright future in which mutual economic interests could be
achieved, and forget the past which was caused by the former regime.” He
said the Iraqi people were also a victim of their own regime. Giving
the example of Europe, which he said was today moving ahead to secure
common economic interests despite the fact that it went through a period
of wars, the Iraqi minister expressed optimism that Kuwait and Iraq
will also similarly overcome the painful past and boost mutual
confidence. He said the former regime heaped untold suffering upon both
Kuwaiti and Iraqi people by detaining many whose fate was still unclear.
He said both the countries were working to resolve their differences
under international supervision.
In this context, he mentioned Iraq
Airways dispute and said both sides have agreed to settle it by
following certain conditions. Al-Ameri expressed hope that the Kuwait-
Baghdad and Baghdad-Kuwait line will be opened soon to move the mutual
relations to a new level, adding that Arab Aviation companies were
demanding an increase in the number of flights. He said Iraq was looking
forward to build the second or third largest port in the world in
Al-Fao area with a capacity of 23 million containers per year, including
23 piers. He said the Mubarak port that Kuwait plans to build does not
affect Al-Fao port, but it does affect the ports of Um Qasr south and
north in addition to Khan Al-Zubair, which is in a narrow and shallow
sea area where Iraq dug the water passage during the 1970s. He said Iraq
believes Kuwait has full sovereignty and a right to build Mubarak Port,
but only wished that the location of the port be moved a little so as
not to harm the traffic of Iraqi ports.
He said the two countries have discussed
this issue and agreed to go in for international arbitration. Al-Ameri
spoke about railroad links with Kuwait and said it was important to have
a railroad that connected the countries of eastern Arab world, as this
will serve the region in many ways. He called for linking east with west
at a later stage to strengthen relations between countries even
further. He said Iraq was keen on developing relations with Kuwait and
there was not one Iraqi political bloc that was against this. He urged
the Kuwaiti businessmen to avail the investment opportunities in Iraq.
Meanwhile, KJA Director and Coordinator
of the visit, Adnan Al-Rashid, lauded the visit, which followed close on
the heels of a similar visit by Iraqi journalists to Kuwait and was in
continuation of the media and popular contacts between both countries.
Al-Rashid also lauded the support of HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber
Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, along with that of information and foreign
ministers to ensure the visit’s success. Al-Rashid also thanked the
Iraqi and Kuwaiti embassies of both countries for facilitating the
visit. He lauded the efforts that made it possible to meet Iraqi
officials in the media office of the prime minister, the president and
the parliament. Al-Rashid lauded the information and culture committee
in the Iraqi parliament and President of Iraqi Journalists Union for
their efforts to make sure the visit was a success as it came ahead of a
visit by HH the Prime Minister of Kuwait to Iraq.
The Kuwait Journalist delegation
included Al-Anbaa Editor-in-Chief Yousuf Al-Marzouq, Annahar
Editor-in-Chief Emad Bukhamseen, Kuna Editor-in-Chief Rashid
Al-Ruwaished, Al-Rai Editor-in-Chief Majid Al-Ali, Kuwait Times
Editor-in-Chief Abd Al-Rahman Al- Alyan, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Yaqza
Magazine Dalia Behbehani, as well as Director of KJA, Coordinator of
the visit Adnan Al-Rashid, member of KJA Board of Directors Jassim Kamal
and Photographer Majid Al-Sabej. The meeting was attended by Charge-de
Affairs at Kuwait Embassy Khalid Al-Qinae and President of Iraq
Journalists Union Moayad Al-Lami. — KUNA
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
KUWAIT: Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister for
Energy Affairs Dr Hassan Al-Shahrastani called upon journalists and
writers in Kuwait and Iraq to focus on the interests of the people of
the two countries and publish the real picture to explain the link that
connects the two neighbours, to help overcome the past and look forward
to the peoples’ ambitions. Al-Shahrastani spoke during a reception
hosted for the Kuwaiti media delegation that visited Iraq, accompanied
by Iraqi Journalist Union leader Moayyid Al-Lami and a delegation from
the union.
He emphasized on the need to take a
responsible stand instead of raising old topics. Al-Shahrastani focused
on the necessity to concentrate on the interests of the people of the
two countries, and the political and economic aspects with a sincere
intention to overcome the past and build the East Arab countries based
on respect for freedom of expression. Al-Shahrastani said that there are
issues which can pose problems for the two countries in the Iraqi
Parliament and Kuwaiti National Assembly but also said that the right
intention helps to solve the problems.
Regarding the issue of electricity in
his country, he said that shortage in power was before 2003 and after
the fall of the previous regime, the need for electrical power has
increased greatly. He attributed this to the economy opening up and the
rising income of the Iraqi families. He added that contracts have been
signed to build new power stations with capacity that reaches 15,000
megawatts, and some of them have been functioning since last month while
others are expected to work this month. Al- Shahrastani said that these
stations are set to meet the power needs of his country.
Al-Shahrastani pointed that all these
stations operate on gas, especially since the Baghdad government intends
to increase oil production over the coming years. He pointed out that
Kuwait needs Iraqi gas like Saudi and Oman, and explained that Iraqi
government considers local demand as top priority in petrochemical
industry and only after that, supplies to its neighbours. He hailed
cooperation in the field of energy with Kuwait government as more than
one contract has been signed with (Kuwait Energy) to develop the oil
fields. One among them is the Ghazi field which is close to the Kuwaiti
border and another field is close to the Iranian border. Al-Shahrastani
added that he personally wanted to give the chance to Kuwaiti companies
which he considered as good motivation for economic integration between
both the countries.
Al-Shahrastani said oil reserves in Iraq
are now at 143 billion barrels and this figure does not include
possible reserves and expected reserves. Pointing that Iraqi government
has signed oil contracts with large international companies to increase
Iraqi production to 12 million barrels a day, he accused local
authorities in Kurdistan province of attempting to smuggle oil, and
revealed that the new attempt this time is via Turkey. About Kurdistan
province reaching agreements with foreign companies directly, he said
the Iraqi government’s stand is fixed and cannot change and is based on
the constitution which states that oil and gas is the property of all
Iraqis, and no party can contract to produce it and export it – except
through the government.
The Kuwaiti media delegation included
the Chairman of Kuwaiti Journalist Association Ahmad Yousuf Behbehani,
Editor-in-Chief of Al-Anbaa Daily Yousuf Al- Marzouq, Editor-in-Chief of
Al-Nahar Daily Emad Bu Khamseen, Chairman of Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)
Rashed Al-Ruwaished, Editor-in-Chief of Al-Rai Daily Majid Al-Ali and
Editor-in-Chief of Kuwait Times Daily Abd Al-Rahman Al-Alyan and Deputy
Editorin- Chief of Al-Yaqtha magazine Dalia Behbehani in addition to the
Director of Kuwait Journalist Association and coordinator of the
delegation visit Adnan Al-Rashed and member of Kuwait Journalist Board
of Director Jassem Kamal and photographer Majid Al-Sabeji. Iraq’s
Transportation Minister Hadi Al- Ameri expressed optimism about better
Kuwait-Iraq relations in the future and said Iraq wished to improve its
relations with the state of Kuwait at all levels to secure a better
future based on mutual interests. Speaking during a meeting with Kuwaiti
journalists’ delegation, headed by Kuwait Journalists’ Association
chief Ahmad Behbehani, Al-Ameri said, “Relations with Kuwait began
moving in the right direction and both countries should now be looking
towards a bright future in which mutual economic interests could be
achieved, and forget the past which was caused by the former regime.” He
said the Iraqi people were also a victim of their own regime. Giving
the example of Europe, which he said was today moving ahead to secure
common economic interests despite the fact that it went through a period
of wars, the Iraqi minister expressed optimism that Kuwait and Iraq
will also similarly overcome the painful past and boost mutual
confidence. He said the former regime heaped untold suffering upon both
Kuwaiti and Iraqi people by detaining many whose fate was still unclear.
He said both the countries were working to resolve their differences
under international supervision.
In this context, he mentioned Iraq
Airways dispute and said both sides have agreed to settle it by
following certain conditions. Al-Ameri expressed hope that the Kuwait-
Baghdad and Baghdad-Kuwait line will be opened soon to move the mutual
relations to a new level, adding that Arab Aviation companies were
demanding an increase in the number of flights. He said Iraq was looking
forward to build the second or third largest port in the world in
Al-Fao area with a capacity of 23 million containers per year, including
23 piers. He said the Mubarak port that Kuwait plans to build does not
affect Al-Fao port, but it does affect the ports of Um Qasr south and
north in addition to Khan Al-Zubair, which is in a narrow and shallow
sea area where Iraq dug the water passage during the 1970s. He said Iraq
believes Kuwait has full sovereignty and a right to build Mubarak Port,
but only wished that the location of the port be moved a little so as
not to harm the traffic of Iraqi ports.
He said the two countries have discussed
this issue and agreed to go in for international arbitration. Al-Ameri
spoke about railroad links with Kuwait and said it was important to have
a railroad that connected the countries of eastern Arab world, as this
will serve the region in many ways. He called for linking east with west
at a later stage to strengthen relations between countries even
further. He said Iraq was keen on developing relations with Kuwait and
there was not one Iraqi political bloc that was against this. He urged
the Kuwaiti businessmen to avail the investment opportunities in Iraq.
Meanwhile, KJA Director and Coordinator
of the visit, Adnan Al-Rashid, lauded the visit, which followed close on
the heels of a similar visit by Iraqi journalists to Kuwait and was in
continuation of the media and popular contacts between both countries.
Al-Rashid also lauded the support of HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber
Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, along with that of information and foreign
ministers to ensure the visit’s success. Al-Rashid also thanked the
Iraqi and Kuwaiti embassies of both countries for facilitating the
visit. He lauded the efforts that made it possible to meet Iraqi
officials in the media office of the prime minister, the president and
the parliament. Al-Rashid lauded the information and culture committee
in the Iraqi parliament and President of Iraqi Journalists Union for
their efforts to make sure the visit was a success as it came ahead of a
visit by HH the Prime Minister of Kuwait to Iraq.
The Kuwait Journalist delegation
included Al-Anbaa Editor-in-Chief Yousuf Al-Marzouq, Annahar
Editor-in-Chief Emad Bukhamseen, Kuna Editor-in-Chief Rashid
Al-Ruwaished, Al-Rai Editor-in-Chief Majid Al-Ali, Kuwait Times
Editor-in-Chief Abd Al-Rahman Al- Alyan, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Yaqza
Magazine Dalia Behbehani, as well as Director of KJA, Coordinator of
the visit Adnan Al-Rashid, member of KJA Board of Directors Jassim Kamal
and Photographer Majid Al-Sabej. The meeting was attended by Charge-de
Affairs at Kuwait Embassy Khalid Al-Qinae and President of Iraq
Journalists Union Moayad Al-Lami. — KUNA
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
