Basrah, Iraq
Kabul, Afghanistan
By Najem Abdullah
KUWAIT, Aug 20 (KUNA) -- His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah said here on Saturday that the State of Kuwait would continue supporting Iraqi people and their political project until security and stability have been restored in Iraq, stressing the strength of Kuwaiti-Iraqi relations.
This came during the Premier's meeting with Minister of Information Anas Al-Rushaid, Undersecretary of the Premier's Diwan Ahmad Al-Fahad, Chairman - General Director of Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Head of Kuwaiti Journalists Society, Editors-in-Chief of Kuwaiti newspapers and Premier's Diwan Advisor Sami Al-Nisf.
H.H. Sheikh Sabah said the disturbance on Kuwaiti-Iraqi borders, which occurred few weeks ago, was over and what was invoked in some media coverage did not represent the Iraqi government's views.
He asserted there has not been any borders disagreement between the two countries and that Kuwaiti-Iraqi borders demarcation was finalized in accordance with the Security Council's resolutions.
Kuwaiti government, he added, has been supporting the Iraqi political process, hopping to see a secure and stable new Iraq.
Regarding Kuwaiti-Iranian relations, Sheikh Sabah said the State of Kuwait and the Islamic Republic of Iran have had several brotherly relations, hoping that these relations would result in more close cooperation between the two countries and other states in the region.
Sheikh Sabah expressed confidence on the Iranian leadership and its elected President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad's abilities to resolve the nuclear issue.
He added that the international community has been keen not to create tension in the region, which has suffered a lot during the last period, affirming that escalation did not serve any party's interest. Regarding local press, the prime minister stressed the importance of its role in solving local and international issues, saying that the government has always valued the local press crucial responsibilities.
Sheikh Sabah also affirmed the private sector's important role in vitalizing the national economy, hoping that it would play a more effective role in attracting national workforce to the job market.
Replying to a question regarding Al-Sabiyah Bridge project which would link Kuwait City to northern Sabiyah area, Sheikh Sabah said that the government allocated adequate budget for that project. However, he added, there has been another vision, through which the private sector would construct Al-Sabiyah Bridge as well as other construction projects.
Concerning the impact of rocketing oil prices on the country's future projects, the prime minister said the government has been devoted to the Future Generations Fund, to which it has been making payments to ensure the Kuwaiti people's future.
Asked about relations between the Kuwaiti legislative and executive authorities and reports about MPs intentions to grill several ministers, Sheikh Sabah said that he has always called for cooperation and integration between the two authorities, stressing that parliamentary questioning was a constitutional right for MPs to practice.
Regarding the recent increase in consumer goods' prices, Sheikh Sabah said that the price rise was not due to local decisions, but because of slight increases in the prices of some imported products from their source of origin, lauding the Commerce Ministry's role in this regard.