Kuwait Parliament Is Finalizing Iraqi Debts

The Kuwaiti government is currently mulling over solutions to the Iraqi debts issue by turning them into investments in Iraq. Such a proposal was supported by a statement made by the Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Sheikh , Mohammed AlـSabah. However the MPs oppose the government''s authority of taking unilateral decisions regarding that matter and demanded that the Parliament should have the final say.
However government sources asserted that the government does not intend to ignore the Parliament regarding the issue, but seeks to convince the MPs of the importance of solving that matter. They said: "Agreeing on this issue will benefit Kuwait, through meetings between the government and the MPs, and through private meetings to explain the dimensions of the issue by making longـterm investments in Iraq, whether in natural resources, infrastructure, or through contracts with global companies that operate in Iraq in the fields of development and construction, where the operational profits will go to Kuwait.
The sources added that the funds will not be fully used for investments, adding that "Kuwait will recover the rest of the debts in accordance with a mechanism to be determined by the governments of the two countries."
MP Faisal AlـMislem, said that "the people of Kuwait expect the commitment of Iraq on all obligations towards Kuwait." He affirmed that debts owed to Kuwait must be fully paid by all those indebted to Kuwait, including Iraq and others. "The government must not compromise on them or act alone without involving the Parliament," the lawmaker further stated. For his part, the Supervisor of the National Assembly , Mohammed AlـHuwaila rejected the government's tendency of canceling the debts owed by Iraq or investing them in Iraq. He pointed out to the fact that the people of Kuwait are entitled to those funds. The legislator also questioned reports that the government is mulling over the idea of investing in Iraq as a substitute to the settlement of the debts, while it failed to find a solution to the debts that are overwhelming the Kuwaiti citizens who need to repay their debts.- AlWatan