AL seeks to contain Saddam's speech; Kuwait denies criticizing Moussa
Regional-Kuwait, Politics, 12/17/2002

The Kuwaiti government yesterday stressed the criticism addressed by Kuwaiti parliament members to the secretary general of the Arab League (AL) Amr Moussa do not represent Kuwait's official position, while Berlin has clarified that there is no connection between the presence of the German forces in Kuwait and the an attack against Iraq.

Kuwait's representative at the AL. Ahmad al- Kleib. explained in conclusion of a meeting with the AL chief at a request of Moussa that what stated of Kuwaiti positions and statements towards the AL chief only represent the person who made it, but "the official view point is clear and has no accusations." He added he asked Moussa "an official reply to the Kuwaiti message sent by the Kuwaiti deputy premier and foreign minister Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad last week to explain allegations stated in the speech of the Iraqi President."

However, a well-informed source at the Arab League quoted Moussa as saying that the message "did not include a hint to reply it." During the past few days, a group of Kuwaiti National Council ( parliament) members addressed criticism to Moussa as being "aligned with Iraq and Saddam."

The AL chief denied the Kuwaiti accusations saying "I am an Arab in spirit and identity and do not align to any side. To the contrary, my concern is Kuwait's safety and security."

Meantime, the official source said that Moussa "summoned on late Sunday evening Iraq's representative Mohsin Khalil in an attempt to contain the explosive situation between Kuwait and Iraq concerning Saddam's speech." He added "quoting an official Kuwaiti source that the AL chief promised to make efforts and make urgent contacts with the Iraqi side in order to get clarification concerning what was stated in the speech" of the Iraqi President.

On the other hand, the German defense minister Peter Stroek said that the German soldiers who were deployed in Kuwait have no connections to preparations that are underway for any war against Iraq.

In a press conference with his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Jaber al-Mubarak al-Sabah, Stroek said that the German soldiers are in Kuwait in the framework of the "permanent freedom" operations ( in Afghanistan) and will not take part in a war against Iraq."

Previous Stories:
  Kuwaiti Al-Watan: Moussa says League not biased towards Iraq against Kuwait   (12/14/2002)
  Moussa: AL recognizes Kuwaiti bitterness, but Iraq is in danger   (12/13/2002)
  Kuwait for convening the ME peace conference   (5/27/2002)

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