December 17, 2010
‘Prospects bright for solution to Kuwait, Iraq outstanding issues’ and Lifting of sanctions should not be considered profit or loss
A number of professors of political science and security experts said prospects are bright for the solution of outstanding issues between Kuwait and Iraq in the face of a number of sanctions on Iraq being dropped by a Security Council resolution. However, the Council warned Iraq against not complying with its obligations towards Kuwait, reports Al-Anba daily.
They made it clear that the issues of compensation and the prisoners of war and missing persons is still under the control of the United Nations and are moving in the normal direction.
At the outset, the President of the Council for Peace Studies and Research and professor of political science at Kuwait University Dr Ghanim Al-Najjar said the outstanding issues between Kuwait and Iraq, associated with the demarcation of borders, compensation and regarding Kuwaiti archives are in the final stages after a Security Council voted recently to cancel two items ban on oil-for-food imports and for the implementation of Iraq’s peaceful nuclear program.
For his part, political science professor Dr Ayed Al-Manna said what matters to Kuwait by way of voting on the resolutions is that the Iraqi government is committed to the implementation of its obligations to Kuwait in connection with the payment of 5 percent to the Compensation Fund and the return of remains of missing persons and hostages if found alive and deliver the Kuwaiti archives, referring to the statement issued by the UN Security Council urging Iraq to continue to implement the resolutions of international legitimacy.
He pointed out that it is in the interest of Iraq because such decisions are binding on all contracting parties, even if were not in Section VII.
Manna said that the Iraqi neighbors if they want to overcome the wounds of the past they have to take into account that he did not bargain or negotiate on the resolutions of international legitimacy, and if we want to give up something for it from our side without any hint.
He added: “I think that any Iraqi government that deals with its people and establish good neighborly relations with all its neighbors have to respect the international legitimacy, and respect the borders and rights of others and non-interference in their affairs, and building relationships on a basis of mutual respect, indicating that any intervention in the internal affairs of Iraq to preserve the unity and cohesion of the Iraqi national unity.
Acting Chairman of the Kuwaiti National Committee for Prisoners and Missing Persons Ibrahim Shaheen said the issues related to missing persons and prisoners are still under the control of the United Nations.
Al Shaheen hopes to send a message to Iraq to comply with all outstanding issues so that its 20-year-old file can be solved as soon as possible.
Meanwhile Fahd Al-Shilemi, retired army man and security official in the UN office in Kuwait said lifting of sanctions should not be considered profit or loss. He pointed that the Security Council has taken into account the Iraq wish to abide by honoring all relevant resolutions of compensation and the border issues and returning stolen Kuwaiti archives.
He said this step is encouraging and more progress is expected in Iraq’s relations with its neighbors and the international community. He spoke of the policy change and said “we must move forward and provide Iraq humanitarian assistance in order to make way for Iraq to move to meet the international obligations.”
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