Iraqi Foreign Ministry resolves debate about Umm Qasr Port
Iraqi soldier stands guard at Umm Qasr’s port near Basra in southern Iraq. Photo: Reuters
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied on Wednesday allegations about the abandonment of Umm Qasr Port in the southern Iraqi governorate of Basra and the renunciation of Iraq’s territorial sovereignty.
The spokesperson for the Iraqi Foreign Ministry, Ahmed Al-Sahaf, mentioned in a statement that the land border was demarcated under a UN resolution in 1993, adding that the government is fully committed to the resolution and its relevant international obligations.
The statement stressed that no changes have been made to land borders since the resolution was issued in 1993.
The Foreign Ministry’s announcement followed circulated news about angry demonstrations in Umm Qasr city denouncing the sale of parts of Iraqi lands to Kuwait.
Iraq and Kuwait confirmed on Sunday that they would work towards a final border deal, including the waters off Umm Qasr port. Details of what that meant were not disclosed, resulting in a public outcry, The National reported.
The Foreign Ministry’s statement noted that houses built on the Iraqi-Kuwaiti border are located on Iraqi land and were constructed to be a more stable alternative for their residents.