Iraq-Kuwait contacts to help in ending suspended dossiers between both countries, official says

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Legislature in Iraq‘s State of Law Coalition, Ali Al-Allaq, has said on Monday that high-level meetings between Iraq and Kuwait would share in ending the suspended dossiers between the two countries.   “The visits by President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to Kuwait had a major impact on closer relations between the two sisterly states and peoples, along with bringing viewpoints and understanding closer, regarding the suspended dossiers between the two countries,” Allaq told IraqiNews.com news agency, adding that “the continuation of such contacts on high levels, along with those by specialists and advisors, shall contribute in ending the suspended dossiers.”   Iraqi President Jalal Talabani had visited Kuwait last Friday, in response to an invitation by the Emir (Prince) of Kuwait, Sheikh Subah al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Subah, where he attended the national celebrations there.   The Iraq–Kuwait relations dossier comprises several suspened issues, including the compensations paid by Iraq due to its invasion of Kuwait in 1990, and Kuwait‘s position towards Iraq‘s exclusion from the UN Charter’s 7th Article, along with the demarcation of joint borders between the two countries and the issue of the remains of Kuwaitis lost in Iraq.   As regards to the issue of naming the vacant positions in the new Iraqi cabinet, Allaq said: “The naming of the security cabinet ministers and the National Council for Strategic Policies (NCSP), are standing rights and the Prime Minister is serious in treating this dossier together with the related political blocs,” adding that “the issue lies in naming the candidates, who shall gain the satisfaction and approval of all political blocs.”   Noteworthy is that the Iraqi Parliament had granted trust to the new Iraqi government on 21/12/2010, comprising 42 cabinet posts (including 12 state ministries), whilst Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, kept the Ministries of Interior, Defense and National Security, temporarily under his adminstration on “acting” basis.   ST / SKH 462