Iraq wants to know Kuwait’s stand on Kabir port: speaker

08/03/2012

Nouri Al-Maliki’s visit will boost Kuwait ties

KUWAIT CITY, March 7: 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.’

Meanwhile, the forthcoming visit of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki on March 14 will hopefully consolidate the cordial relations between the two nations and settle the tensions, reports Al-Anba daily.

A source informed the discussions will focus on bilateral talks and pending issues between the two countries. He said they will not discuss about the Mubarak Port project because the issue is already settled and the implementation of the project is under progress.

Regarding the demand of Iraq to be excluded from the Chapter Seven resolution, he said the decision is in the hands of the United Nations but Iraq’s compliance to the execution of all responsibilities towards Kuwait will facilitate a quicker exclusion from Chapter Seven.

In another report, when the US Administration and the Iraqi government met to discuss the need to keep the first batch of army forces for a longer period, some ideas were raised by the Iraqi officials, reports Al-Kuwaitiah daily.

These ideas included formation of a federation which would include Kuwait, to be able to take decisions freely, as done in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Some even suggested including Jordan as a part of the federation based on the similarity in the constitutional and democratic practices different from those in other Gulf nations where constitution and democracy did not specify the responsibilities of the executive and legislative authorities.

From this perspective, it is possible to resolve the agitation related to including Kuwait in the Arabian Gulf Confederation. Although the idea was treated in an unofficial manner, since US is a part of it, it should not be waived aside.

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