2/17/2011 Melkert sees "positive" signals between Kuwait and Iraq
UNITED NATIONS, UN Special envoy to Iraq Ed Melkert late Wednesday said the Kuwaiti Prime Minister's visit to Iraq last month and his Iraqi counterpart's visit to Kuwait this week are "positive signals" in the relations between the two neighbouring countries.
"I see a lot of positive signals," Melkert told KUNA following a meeting with UN high-level officials regarding the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI).
Asked what his message would be on the celebrations of Kuwait's 50th anniversary of independence and 20th anniversary of liberation, he said they are indeed occasions for celebrations and that he will be in Kuwait for the celebrations.
UNITED NATIONS, UN Special envoy to Iraq Ed Melkert late Wednesday said the Kuwaiti Prime Minister's visit to Iraq last month and his Iraqi counterpart's visit to Kuwait this week are "positive signals" in the relations between the two neighbouring countries.
"I see a lot of positive signals," Melkert told KUNA following a meeting with UN high-level officials regarding the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI).
Asked what his message would be on the celebrations of Kuwait's 50th anniversary of independence and 20th anniversary of liberation, he said they are indeed occasions for celebrations and that he will be in Kuwait for the celebrations.
(Link ~February 24-28: Kuwait - Iraq ~ Huge Celebebration ~ Kuwait Liberated from Iraqi Occupation Forces ~ World Leaders Invited ~ President Talibani, etc..)
He said Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro will travel to Kuwait to represent Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in the celebrations. The UN high-level coordinator for the missing Kuwaitis and property Gennady Tarasov will also be there.
Iraqi Ambassador to the UN Hamid Al-Bayati also told KUNA that Iraqi President Jalal Talabani will travel to Kuwait to participate in the celebrations, describing the exchange of visits by the Prime Ministers of Kuwait and Iraq are "very successful."
He said Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro will travel to Kuwait to represent Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in the celebrations. The UN high-level coordinator for the missing Kuwaitis and property Gennady Tarasov will also be there.
Iraqi Ambassador to the UN Hamid Al-Bayati also told KUNA that Iraqi President Jalal Talabani will travel to Kuwait to participate in the celebrations, describing the exchange of visits by the Prime Ministers of Kuwait and Iraq are "very successful."
On his feeling towards the anniversaries, Al-Bayati said "we in Iraq opposed Saddam and his occupation of Kuwait. We congratulate our brothers on the 20th anniversary of the liberation and we wish them success, and hopefully our brotherly relations will continue, as there is commitment and intention from both countries to solve all remaining issues in a satisfactory manner."
Asked why Iraq is still refusing to allow UN experts to travel to Iraq to maintain the border posts with Kuwait, he said "I believe that after this exchange of visits by the Prime Ministers, all issues, especially the one related to the border, will be solved."
