4/8/2010 France should be advocate of Kuwait in Iraq border problem, Kouchner
PARIS, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner told parliamentarians here Wednesday that France should be the "advocate" of Kuwait in the treatment of the border problem with Iraq, and this issue should be settled rapidly.
Speaking at the Foreign Affairs Commission in the French National Assembly, Kouchner said he had recently been to Kuwait and had seen there was indeed a problem and had discussed this issue.
"We recently went to Kuwait and we have gone several times to Iraq and said that this problem should be settled, not by a disdainful initiative, or by an initiative whereby Iraq says it is a problem we dont need to treat now," Kouchner affirmed.
"I think relative to the problem of the frontier, our ties with Kuwait are good enough that we should be their advocate in this matter," Kouchner said in answer to questions.
Queried about compensation for the Iraqi invasion and occupation of Kuwait and the damages due to other countries, notably Kuwait, Kouchner said France favoured a global negotiation on this subject but this had not started as yet.
He noted that Iraq, despite progress in its budgetary situation, maintains that all forms of compensation, outside of mandatory UN payments, are "not on the agenda".
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