BAGHDAD: A group photo of members of the Kuwaiti media delegation, including Kuwait Times Editor-in-Chief Abd Al-Rahman Al-Alyan (right), with Iraqi Minister of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities Firyad Rawanduzi (center). - Photo by Mustafa Al-Bader

BAGHDAD: Iraqi Minister of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities Firyad Rawanduzi said that the joint cultural and media activities contributes to bridge relations between Iraq and Kuwait. Rawanduzi made his remarks on Thursday during a meeting with the Kuwaiti media delegation visiting the Capital Baghdad, adding, "media and culture can play an important role in improving the relationship between the two nations."

He said that the year of 2018 will witness a remarkable growth in mutual cultural activities, as many of the Iraqi cultural delegations will visit Kuwait in the next few months. He stressed the importance of activating the social relations between Kuwaiti and Iraqi people, noting to the historical depth of this relationship, which based on common history and neighborhood.

The Iraqi minister appreciated the visit of the Kuwaiti media delegation, stressing that it has reflected Kuwait's interest in Iraq in the post-Saddam Hussein era.  The Kuwaiti delegation ended its visit to the Iraqi capital Baghdad, where they met with a number of government officials and heads of political parties to consider the Iraq reconstruction conference to be hosted in Kuwait in mid-February.

The Kuwaiti delegation includes Kuwait Times Editor-in-Chief Abd Al-Rahman Al-Alyan, Secretary of the Kuwaiti Journalists Association Adnan Al-Rashed, KUNA Deputy General Director for the Editorial Department and Chief Editor Saad Al-Ali, Undersecretary of the External Media at the Ministry of Information Faisal Al-Mutallqem and Editor-in-Chief of the daily newspaper, Al-Anbaa.

It also includes Hassan Al-Sayegh from the Premier Diwan and other renowned journalists and media figures. The conference for rebuilding Iraq is due on February 12-14 in Kuwait. It will bring together a number of donors, regional and international organizations namely the United Nations, the European Union and the World Bank.

Successful mission

The Kuwaiti media delegation's visit to Baghdad reflected Iraqi government and people's care towards Kuwait, and the journalists' mission was successful by all standards, Rashed, who is also the visit's coordinator, said on Friday. "The mission comes as an extension to the Kuwaiti official efforts exerted to boost and enhance bilateral ties with Iraq," he said. The visit included meetings with local senior officials in the cabinet, parliament, media institutions, and political parties, he added.

Rashed thanked Iraqi Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Information, as well as the Iraqi Embassy in Kuwait, Iraqi Journalists' Syndicate (IJS), and Iraqi media institutions that intensively followed up on the Kuwaiti delegation visit.  The Kuwaiti media figures met the Iraqi Premier, Parliament Speaker, Vice Presidents, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defense, Interior, Planning, Industry, Oil, and Culture, along with other senior officials.

During the meetings, they tackled the security and political stability in Iraq, as well as discussing preparations for the upcoming Iraq's reconstruction conference, and means of attracting Kuwaiti investors to boost Iraqi trade and industry. - KUNA