Middle East
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein meeting with his Kuwaiti countepart Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on October 29, 2022. Photo: Iraqi foreign ministry
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Iraqi and Kuwaiti foreign ministers met on Saturday to discuss the strengthening of bilateral ties and the importance of Iraq’s security to the region following the formation of a new government.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein addressed with his Kuwaiti counterpart Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah “Iraq’s keenness to strengthen relations with Kuwait on the basis of mutual respect and in a manner that serves the common interests between the two brotherly people” on the sidelines of the Arab League Council in Algeria, according to a statement from the Iraqi foreign ministry.
The top Kuwaiti diplomat congratulated Hussein during the meeting for retaining his position as foreign minister after a new government headed by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani was sworn in during a tense parliamentary session on Thursday, bringing to an end over a year of political deadlock.
Sabah stressed Kuwait’s “desire to develop bilateral relations and consolidate joint cooperation to achieve prosperity for the Iraqi and Kuwaiti people” during the meeting.
Iraq’s relations with Kuwait plummeted to an all-time low following former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein’s decision to invade his oil-rich southern neighbor in 1990. The relations improved after the fall of Hussein’s regime in 2003.
Ties between the neighboring countries began further advancing after the United Nations Security Council in February voted to end Iraq’s requirement to compensate victims of the 1990 invasion after Iraq paid the final reparation installment to Kuwait in December.
The UN Compensation Commission (UNCC), set up in 1991 as a result of Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, announced earlier in February that Baghdad had completed its payment of war reparations worth $52.4 billion to Kuwait.
Iraq’s former president Barham Salih at the time welcomed the council’s decision, saying that “Iraq is moving towards a foreign policy based on establishing the best relations with our brothers, neighbors, and the international community and supporting the security and peace of the region as a common interest for all.”
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein addressed with his Kuwaiti counterpart Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah “Iraq’s keenness to strengthen relations with Kuwait on the basis of mutual respect and in a manner that serves the common interests between the two brotherly people” on the sidelines of the Arab League Council in Algeria, according to a statement from the Iraqi foreign ministry.
The top Kuwaiti diplomat congratulated Hussein during the meeting for retaining his position as foreign minister after a new government headed by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani was sworn in during a tense parliamentary session on Thursday, bringing to an end over a year of political deadlock.
Sabah stressed Kuwait’s “desire to develop bilateral relations and consolidate joint cooperation to achieve prosperity for the Iraqi and Kuwaiti people” during the meeting.
Iraq’s relations with Kuwait plummeted to an all-time low following former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein’s decision to invade his oil-rich southern neighbor in 1990. The relations improved after the fall of Hussein’s regime in 2003.
Ties between the neighboring countries began further advancing after the United Nations Security Council in February voted to end Iraq’s requirement to compensate victims of the 1990 invasion after Iraq paid the final reparation installment to Kuwait in December.
The UN Compensation Commission (UNCC), set up in 1991 as a result of Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, announced earlier in February that Baghdad had completed its payment of war reparations worth $52.4 billion to Kuwait.
Iraq’s former president Barham Salih at the time welcomed the council’s decision, saying that “Iraq is moving towards a foreign policy based on establishing the best relations with our brothers, neighbors, and the international community and supporting the security and peace of the region as a common interest for all.”
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