Russian Envoy in Kuwait for Talks on Iraq, Mideast IssuesRussian Foreign Ministry's envoy Nicoli Khartozov arrived in Kuwait City Friday to hold talks with high- ranking Kuwaiti officials on issues ranging from Iraq to the Middle East.Khartozov told reporters upon his arrival that talks on Saturday will concentrate on the remaining issues of the 1991 Gulf War, triggered by Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait, and the developments of the current situation in the Middle East. He said that Russia "will continually try to find solutions on the common ground to all the outstanding problems between Kuwait and Iraq." He added that Russia supported the idea that Iraq must "abide by related U.N. resolutions." Regarding Russia's stance in the U.N. Security Council against the imposition of the "smart sanctions" on Iraq, he said "any economic sanctions will ultimately increase the suffering of the Iraqi people." He emphasized that the Iraqi and Mideast problems are priority issues at the Russian Foreign Ministry. He said that during the talks, he will deliver a message of Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov to Kuwaiti First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al- Sabah. Khartozov is on the third leg of his tour in the Middle East, which has taken him to Iraq and Syria. He will head for Saudi Arabia next. |
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