Ghanem’s statements came after an expanded meeting held with Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Sabah about the latest escalation in relations with Baghdad. About 40 MPs attended the meeting. The lawmaker said that Kuwait does not want to create a
crisis with Iraq and that "we believe that the row can be resolved through dialogue between the two countries".
Sheikh Mohammad said in a brief statement that he explained to MPs the latest developments in relations between Iraq and Kuwait, especially in light of the accusations against Kuwait. He said he explained that Kuwait has fought fiercely to bring Iraq to the international fold and has worked relentlessly to bring Iraq to the membership of several international and regional organizations.
The minister added that the relations between Iraq and Kuwait are "good and sound" and that he and Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari agreed in a meeting last week in London on the need to stop voices that are working to undermine relations between the two nations. Sheikh Mohammad also said he agreed with Zebari on the need to hold an urgent meeting of the Iraq-Kuwait Joint Commission to discuss all issues "through official channels". The minister however declined to answer any question from reporters.
Ghanem, who also declined to respond to several questions, insisted that Kuwait is not obstructing Iraq’s attempt to exit from Chapter 7 of the UN Security Council. "All we demand is that Iraq should implement the UN Security Council resolutions and then it can exit from chapter seven," said Ghanem, adding that Kuwaiti ambassador to Iraq Ali Al-Mumen quoted Iraqi officials as saying they are committed to comply with UN resolutions on Kuwait.
But MP Waleed Al-Tabatabae described Iraqi calls to renegotiate the land borders which were demarcated by the UN security council in 1993 as "playing with fire". Tabtabae also said he has confirmed information that the United States is backing Iraq in its attempt to exit from Chapter 7. Ghanem refused to answer questions on the issue. MP Dhaifallah Buramia said "we insist on our rights in full and refuse any amendments to the UN resolutions or any negotiations on them. The borders have been demarcated by t
he UN and so was the war reparations and we insist that Iraq should comply with those resolutions".
In another development, the National Assembly’s financial and economic affairs committee decided yesterday to delay until next week its decision on the economic stabilization decree. Head of the committee MP Mohammad Al-Mutair said that the committee will invite the finance minister and governor of the Central Bank to the meeting. The committee decision means that the decree will not be debated during the Assembly’s session tomorrow.
The committee’s decision came amid reports of differences among the committee members. A number of MPs have vowed to vote against the decree while others said they will vote with the decree only if the government agrees to purchase the debt of citizens. To reject the decree, a simple majority of 33 MPs must vote against the decree. Also, the speaker and members of the Assembly bureau met the Amir yesterday who urged MPs to safeguard national unity, according to Al-Mutair.