Amir's wisdom, status will boost KICRI - Meet shines light on stability in Iraq

KUWAIT: First Deputy Premier and Defense Minister Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah receives a delegation from the Iraqi Journalists’ Syndicate. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Relations with Iraq should reach its "utmost level", said First Deputy Premier and Defense Minister Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah yesterday. "What combines the two countries is huge. Relations should grow further in order for us to become real partners to build the future," said Sheikh Nasser during his reception of a delegation from the Iraqi Journalists' Syndicate. They are in the country as part of the media delegation covering the Kuwait International Conference for Reconstruction of Iraq (KICRI) from Feb 12-14.

During the reception, Sheikh Nasser underlined HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's constant support for Iraq, for bilateral relations to flourish even more. Kuwait's "Silk Road" project; in the northern part of the country, came according to a strategic vision in a bid to turn it into an international investment area - in cooperation with Iraq and Iran - which, in turn, would require a joint responsibility to build future for generations to come, the Kuwaiti senior official noted. KICRI is to be co-chaired by Kuwait, Iraq, the UN, the EU and the World Bank.

Meanwhile, HH the Amir's wisdom and experience, as well as global status, would provide momentum to KICRI, Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah said yesterday. The Amir has instructed the conference be provided with all facilities and facilitations needed in order to champion its cause of alleviating suffering of the Iraqi people, said a ministry statement quoting the minister. His remarks came during his reception of Moayed Al-Lami, chief of the Iraqi Journalists' Syndicate. Lami valued the Amir's constant support to Iraq, as well as expressing content over the overwhelming hospitality the delegation has received so far.

The conference sends a message to the international community that restoring stability in Baghdad is an international obligation, Kuwait's deputy prime minister and foreign minister said yesterday. Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah's remarks came in a meeting with the contingent of Iraqi journalists. He attributed the staggering turnout for the conference to the magnitude of an event that aims to bring normalcy to a country devastated by years of warfare. "Iraq is an intellectually rich nation with all the capabilities needed to ensure an effective reconstruction process," the Kuwaiti foreign minister pointed out.

Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled expressed hope that the conference, "which has been in the works for quite some time," would meet its objectives, fresh off Baghdad's military victor over the so-called Islamic State (IS). The Kuwaiti minister applauded the Iraqis for bringing about the downfall of IS, which he described as a thorn in the side of the international community. - KUNA