Kuwait denies preventing Iraq from Arab summit

Sheikh Ahmed al-Sabah, the Kuwaiti foreign minister, confirmed on Thursday that his country is not putting any limits on Iraq attending any Arab summit, referring to the restoration of relations between Kuwait and the countries that backed Iraq during the Gulf crisis.

Sheikh Sabah said: "I hope that no one can say that Kuwait is the one who prevents Iraq from attending the Arab summit, and I am very angry that this subject is raised up continuously." He said his country did not prevent Iraq from participating in the 1996 summit conference in Cairo, to which Iraq was not invited.

The Kuwaiti minister questioned benefits from the Arab summit, "I am not against holding an Arab summit. Yes, I always ask: What is the reason? We have to specify that we want from this summit."