Kuwait Calls on UN to Press for Iraqi CooperationKuwait called Wednesday on the United Nations to press Iraq to cooperate in dealing with the outstanding issues left after Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait.Resolving all the issues in the political, humanitarian and environmental aspects caused by Iraq's invasion and occupation of Kuwait are "of the same importance," Information Minister Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahd al-Ahmad al-Sabah told Xinhua at a press conference. "These issues should be moved forward together as they are very important to Kuwait," Sheikh Ahmad stressed. The minister, apparently dismayed at Iraq's "non-cooperation," urged the U.N. to exert pressure on Baghdad to cooperate in order to achieve a comprehensive solution. Kuwait has been demanding Iraq to reveal the whereabouts of more than 600 Kuwaitis and nationals of third countries it says are still being held in Iraq. Sheikh Ahmad said that documents showed that about 1,000 Kuwaitis were transferred to Iraq after Iraqi troops stormed into Kuwait on August 2, 1990. Iraq has denied the charges, insisting that it has released all the detainees. The Kuwaiti minister also blamed Iraq for the failure to tackle the problems between the two countries at a recent Arab summit, saying that Arab leaders tried to work out a middle-way solution, but Iraq rejected the formula. During the summit held in the Jordanian capital of Amman last March, a draft resolution prepared by Arab foreign ministers appealed for respect of the sovereignty, independence and security of both Kuwait and Iraq. It also urged Iraq to implement the relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions, including those concerning Kuwaiti prisoners of war and the elimination of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction. On Kuwait's stance towards Iraq, Sheikh Ahmad said that his country supports the Iraqi people but not the Iraqi leadership, which he said has become "more aggressive." Kuwait has shown its goodwill in allowing many Iraqis to live in Kuwait, he said. There were about 12,000 Iraqis residing in Kuwait three years ago, and the number is increasing, he added. |
| People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/ |