Iraq Expects Kuwait Will Write Off Loans: Dabbagh
Maliki Asks Kuwaitis To Invest In Baghdad
KUWAIT CITY, March 9: The Kuwaiti suggestion to convert the compensation, which Iraq has to pay to Kuwait, into investments cannot solve the problem because Iraq is not responsible for acts committed by Saddam Hussein, spokesman of the Iraqi government Dr Ali Al-Dabbagh told Al-Anba daily.
He said Iraq has already paid $30 billion in compensation and another $4 billion last and expects Kuwait to take a lenient view of the situation given the fact the United Arab Emirates, Russia and other countries have dropped their due loans in the best interests of the Iraqi nation.
He added the Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki has strong desire to settle all pending files with the Kuwaiti government.
Asked if the prime minister will ask during his visit to Kuwait to write off the debts, Al-Dabbagh said “this is an old request and all officials request the loans to be dropped during their visits.” He pointed out all files will be tackled during the visit such as the common oilfields, the airlines, the two cases of missing persons and the archive.
On Iraq’s delay in demarking the borders and accepting the Kuwaiti offer about farmers, he said, that these are part of the pending files which should be discussed in a brotherly atmosphere.
He stressed the two sides need to take courageous decisions. He also indicated the current circumstances are suitable for getting rid of the past which influences negatively the mutual relations between the two sisterly countries.
Speaking of the Mubarak Al-Kabir Port, he said the issue will be discussed calmly with Kuwait. He added Iraq feels it endangers its interests; thus, it needs reassurances from Kuwait. However, Kuwait has sovereign right to build the port but without harming the Iraqi interests.
Earlier, the Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament Osama Al-Nujaifi was recently quoted as saying the file of the Mubarak Al-Kabir port which is being built by Kuwait is still a subject of discussion between the two countries, reports Al-Anba daily.
He has said he wants to portray the real picture to the Kuwaiti side and hopes both sides will agree to common interests.
Al-Nujaifi pointed out the Iraqi side is waiting to see what stand the Kuwaiti Parliament will adopt. However, this can only be determined after the concerned party is acquainted with the subject over the next few days.
He described the bilateral relations between the two parties as ‘good.’
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KUWAIT CITY: Prime Minister of Iraq Nouri Al-Maliki said Kuwaiti investors will face no obstacles in his country and all economic sectors will be made available for them, reports Al-Nahar daily.
In a discussion held between Al-Maliki and Bukhamseen Group of Companies owned by Jawad Bukhamseen, Al-Maliki said Kuwaitis should consider Iraq as their second country and that Iraqi government will work on removing any obstacles the Kuwaitis investors could face in Iraq.
Jawad Bukhamseen said a representative of the group will visit Iraq to study the investment opportunities which will ultimately strengthen the relations between the two countries.