Kuwait and Iraq: 30 Days to Address Outstanding Issues and Files
Based on the outcomes of the meeting between His Highness the Crown Prince, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled, and the Iraqi Council of Ministers Chairman, Ali Al-Zaidi, held on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, and in light of both countries’ commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and resolving outstanding issues in the spirit of brotherhood, good neighborliness, and shared interests, the two sides agreed to form a joint Kuwaiti-Iraqi working team tasked with reviewing outstanding files, developing a roadmap for their resolution, and submitting joint recommendations to the leaderships of both countries within a period not exceeding thirty days. The two sides also agreed that the team would hold its meetings alternately in Kuwait and Baghdad on a continuous basis until its work is completed.
Both sides reaffirmed their full support for the team’s work and their commitment to accomplishing its mission, which will contribute to closing outstanding files and opening a new phase of cooperation and partnership between the two countries, serving the interests of both the Kuwaiti and Iraqi peoples.
On another note, Iraqi Security Media Cell Chief, Major General Saad Maan, stated that the visit to Kuwait aims to organize and develop the existing relationship between the two countries and to reach “common security messages.” He explained that one of the priorities is combating rumors that periodically emerge, by establishing direct communication channels between the Iraqi Security Media and its counterparts in the Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Defense.
Maan noted that Iraq is situated in a “turbulent” regional environment, but emphasized Iraq’s determination to avoid entering any war and to preserve its gains, stressing the importance of good relations with all neighboring countries, foremost among them Kuwait. He warned against the phenomenon he termed “news laundering,” where information from unknown sources is passed on to others and then treated as if it were issued by official Iraqi entities. He stated that media can play a role in “poisoning ideas and memory,” affirming that Iraq is working to enhance its media and technical capabilities to counter misinformation and protect the country’s image. He called for responsible and calm media discourse on this file, urging that issues which can be resolved through dialogue and official channels not become sources of tension between the two countries.
Maan affirmed that the official Iraqi position is clear, and that the Iraqi leadership “will not allow Iraq to be a source of threat to any neighboring country,” nor will it accept Iraq being threatened or attacked by any neighboring state. He pointed out that current indicators are positive, and that the political, security, and diplomatic trajectory is moving toward supporting stability, expressing confidence that the coming days will witness further positive developments.
For his part, Sabah Al-Nu’man, spokesperson for the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces and head of the Security Media Cell, as well as the official spokesperson for the Iraqi military and security establishment, stressed that the official Iraqi position is clear: “We will not allow Iraq to be a source of threat to any neighboring country, nor will we allow Iraq to be threatened or attacked by any neighboring state.” He noted that the process of regulating weapons and developing security and military capabilities is advancing rapidly, thereby enhancing the Iraqi forces’ ability to protect the country and maintain security.
Regarding regional tensions, Al-Nu’man affirmed that Iraq has been and will not be a party to any regional war, pointing out that the repercussions of the US-Iranian conflict have affected Iraq, Kuwait, and the region as a whole, both security-wise and economically. He confirmed that all Iraqi security forces operate under the orders of the Prime Minister in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, noting that decisions regarding war and peace are governed by constitutional and legal frameworks.
