Iraqi criticism for al-Ateyah statements

A spokesman for the Iraqi National Council (parliament) yesterday criticized statements made by the secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Abdul Rahman al-Ateyah, who described the message of the Iraqi President to the Kuwaiti people as disappointing.

Al-Ateyah had criticized the message of the Iraqi President by saying that the speech does not represent good intentions and does not comply with the resolutions of the Beirut's recent Arab summit concerning Kuwait's security and independence.

In the context of answering al-Ateyah's statements, the Iraqi spokesman questioned saying "the Beirut's summit included honoring Iraq's sovereignty and security.. And what does the behavior of the Kuwaiti officials means in their links with the hirelings.. Does that means dishonoring Iraq's security and sovereignty."

The Iraqi spokesman added that if "Mr. Al-Ateyah considers that the American forces which occupied Kuwait and start from it to destroy people and planning to destroy Iraq is unimportant matters, then, Iraq and the Arab nation consider that it is the right and duty of each an Arab to resist these forces."