Otaibi: UN Security Council to approve law of relieving Iraq from 7th Chapter June 27

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed satisfaction at “growing momentum” for full normalization of the Kuwaiti-Iraqi ties that was recently crowned by the visit of the Kuwaiti Premier Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to Baghdad and the signing of some pacts.

A statement by the Kuwaiti News Agency (KUNA) quoted Ban as saying “What’s been done in the past weeks is an accomplishment,” after his meeting with both Permanent Delegate of Kuwait at the UN, Ambassador Mansour Ayyad Al-Otaibi, and his Iraqi counterpart Mohammad Ali Al-Hakim, yesterday, where they handed over a signed memorandum of understanding concerning the establishment of a joint committee for tackling the border issues.

Prior to the meeting with the two envoys, Ban had telephoned the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and the Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri Al-Maliki, to express his satisfaction at the improvement of the bilateral ties.

Al-Otaibi quoted Ban as saying that “this was the first time he held a joint meeting with the Kuwaiti and Iraqi sides.” Ban continued, “Things are going onto the right direction. Disputes over the implementation of the Chapter VII obligations have drained the efforts of the UN Security Council; nonetheless, things are greatly improving,” giving credit to the wise leadership of both countries.

The UN will ensure that all pending issues between the two countries will come to a closure, Ban affirmed.

Al-Otaibi thanked the UN chief for all exerted efforts through his recurrent visits to both countries to ensure leaving a “positive footprint in bilateral ties.” He noted that the Kuwaiti delegation in New York is in contact with members of the UN Security Council over a draft law that will be approved June 27.

The draft law will end the tenure of the High-Level Coordinator for Iraq/Kuwait missing persons and property, Gennady Tarasov.

The issue of the missing persons and property will be assigned to UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and it will be included in Chapter V not VIII on the UN Charter.

On his part, the Iraqi envoy Al-Hakim said the Kuwaiti premier’s visit “marks history” and Iraq will be faithful to all international commitments towards the state of Kuwait even if the Iraqi government changes.

“We are looking forward to a tremendous cooperation with Kuwait that included exchange of visits and investments,” he noted.