Iraq to return TV, radio archives to Kuwait
BAGHDAD: Iraqi Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Hazem Al-Yousefi informed Kuwait’s Ambassador in Baghdad Salem Al-Zamanan of the transfer scheduled next week of Kuwait TV and radio archives, read a ministry statement. Baghdad took the move in the wake of its commitment to enhancing bilateral relations, mainly in the political and economic domains, and to resolve all unresolved predicaments, the archive matter included. It comes “after efforts were exerted to search for and gather the Kuwaiti archives, in accordance with Security Council resolution 2107,” ordered by Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammad Al-Hakim, added the official. United Nations representatives will be in attendance during the hand over, he said. Iraqi forces looted Kuwaiti national archive, including those of TV and Radio, during the sevenmonth occupation of Kuwait in 1990-91.
Separately, Hakim praised Kuwait’s support for his country, calling on the Kuwaitis to invest in reconstruction projects in Iraq. This came during a meeting with Ambassador Zamanan on Tuesday. A statement by the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said that the Minister stressed the importance of coordinating positions in international organizations and the League of Arab States, calling for exchanging visits between officials of the two countries in the framework of enhancing bilateral relations and exchanging expertise.
The minister reiterated his thanks to Kuwait’s support for his country, especially in hosting the International Conference for the Reconstruction of Iraq, calling on the Kuwaiti side to invest in Iraq and contribute to the reconstruction of infrastructure. Meanwhile, Zamanan stressed the good relations between the two countries, calling for a new round of meetings of the Iraqi-Kuwaiti Joint Committee. He also renewed invitation to the Minister to visit Kuwait to discuss common files.