Iraq, Kuwait make headway in all outstanding issues -- PM

[coolbeans]

Tuesday April 5, 2011

Iraq, Kuwait make headway in all outstanding issues -- PM

BAGHDAD, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki said Monday the talks on all outstanding issues, left over by the defunct regime of Saddam Hussein, with neighborly Kuwait made a good progress.

Al-Maliki said, during his meeting here with ambassadors of the European Union members to Iraq, his government is battling to stabilize Iraq and improve ties will all neighbors particularly Kuwait.

"The government was able to settle all the security problems relating to neighboring countries," Al-Maliki was quoted by a statement issued by his office and obtained by KUNA.

"We seek to build neighborly ties based on mutual respect, mutual interests and non-interference in each other's domestic affairs," he said.

The Iraqi leader reaffirmed opposition to existence in Iraq of armed group that launch attacks against neighboring countries such as the anti-Turkey Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in north Iraq and the anti-Iran Ashraf organization in east Iraq.

He asked the heads of EU diplomatic missions in Iraq to encourage their respective governments to back the stabilization of his country. On their part, the EU diplomat renewed determination to offer help to Iraq in all fields particularly the security stabilization and economic recovery.

http://articlesofinterest-kelley.blogspot.com/2011/04/iraq-kuwait-make-headway-in-all.html

Monday April 4, 2011

Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah optimistic about UNCC meeting

GENEVA, Kuwaiti Minister of Oil and Information Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah said he is optimistic about the outcome of the United Nations Compensations Commission (UNCC)'s Governing Council meeting which will kick off here Tuesday.

"We are very optimistic and expect that the ban on the transfer of the required installments would be lifted," Sheikh Ahmad told (KUNA) upon his arrival here to participate in the two-day meeting.

He added that he would raise this issue in his speech in the opening session Tuesday. Kuwait wants to, "retain the three billion dollars that the commission had approved for it and will demand the start of paying the installments," he said.

Sheikh Ahmad revealed that his speech would highlight the UNCC achievements and Kuwait's ambitions about its work in the coming period.

The Kuwaiti minister also described the visit paid by several UNCC officials to Kuwait recently as successful. "It has given the UNCC officials a very good impression about Kuwait's achievements," he said.

Sheikh Ahmad, who also chairs the Central Committee for Overseeing the Environment Rehabilitation, also unveiled that several members of the committee have started a visit to Geneva for a week to thoroughly discuss with UNCC officials Kuwait efforts to implement the UN resolution No. 258 on environment.

"Moreover, the visits paid by the independent UN officials' to Kuwait will get them acquainted with the positive developments in this regard," he said. Meanwhile, the Kuwaiti minister hailed the Austrian presidency of the UNCC, which ended last year.

Established in 1991 as a subsidiary organ of the Security Council, UNCC has received nearly three million claims in six different categories: four categories are for individuals' claims, one for corporations, and one for governments and international organizations, which also includes claims for environmental damage.

It has disbursed to individuals, corporations, governments, and international organizations to nearly USD 31.4 billion, leaving an outstanding balance of some USD 21 billion that remains owing to Kuwait.

The vast majority of funds for compensation payments have come from the sale of Iraqi petroleum under the so-called Oil-for-Food Program, which came to an end in 2003, and later within the scope of arrangements made under Security Council resolutions.

http://articlesofinterest-kelley.blogspot.com/2011/04/tuesday-april-5th-meeting-kuwaits.html

[Butifldrm]

Thanks for the post. These are the things we need to keep our eye on.

[TimS]

This looks promising....BUT weren't there a bunch of gurus who said that the 21 billiondollars was already paid to Kuwait? and some even said the US paid the tab? Sounds like they were full of shiite

[eileen]

Thanks for these articles--this is a great find.