Three Kuwaiti conditions for reconciliation with Iraq

Kuwaiti first deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad on Monday specified three preconditions before talking about reconciliation with Iraq.

In an interview published yesterday by the Kuwaiti daily al-Qabas, Sheikh Sabah Ahmad said the three demands are: to free Kuwaiti prisoners in Iraqi jails, to carry out UN Security council resolutions imposed on Iraq and to admit guilt for invading Kuwait by the highest Iraqi authority.

Sheikh al-Ahmad reiterated Kuwait's welcome of the accord signed by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in Baghdad and expressed hope a military strike will not be launched against Iraq, calling upon Iraq to abide by international resolutions.

Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad stressed Kuwait's commitment to its Arab identity. The Kuwaiti minister revealed that the concept of the opposition states (in remarks to countries that rallied with Iraq during the Gulf War) has finished, adding that he extended an invitation to the speaker of the Yemeni parliament, Abdullah al-Ahmar to visit Kuwait.