New York, United States — At a meeting on the sidelines of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, foreign ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the importance of Iraq respecting the sovereignty of Kuwait.
The ministers underscored the need for Baghdad to adhere to UN resolutions, particularly Resolution 833, which pertains to the demarcation of the Kuwait-Iraq borders, according to KUNA.
They also called for the completion of border demarcation beyond mark 162 and urged Iraq to swiftly address the “international legal status” to ensure the treaty regulating navigation via the Khor Abdullah waterway, established in 2012, is upheld.
The statement released after the meeting also reiterated support for UN Security Council Resolution 2107 (2013). This resolution calls for the return of all Kuwaitis, including those missing, and the repatriation of Kuwaiti properties, notably the national archive, to the UN mission in Iraq.
Expressing hope for continued cooperation from Iraq, the ministers urged both Iraq and the UN to make every effort to resolve the related issues.
Kuwait Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who participated in the meeting, responded to a recent ruling by the Supreme Federal Court in Iraq concerning the border treaty. This treaty was ratified by both the Iraqi parliament and the Kuwaiti National Assembly in 2013 and subsequently submitted to the UN.
Sheikh Salem highlighted misinformation and inappropriate rhetoric against the State of Kuwait emanating from Baghdad. He strongly condemned the recent Iraqi Federal Court decision on the Khor Abdullah issue, where Kuwait and Iraq had previously reached a 2012 agreement to regulate maritime navigation.
Speaking to KUNA, Sheikh Salem labeled the Iraqi decision as based on “ahistorical claims.” He shared that he conveyed Kuwait’s position on the matter during his meetings with the GCC Foreign Ministers. This sentiment was reiterated during the GCC Foreign Ministers’ meeting with Blinken, where a consensus on the issue was achieved.
Sheikh Salem expressed hope that the Iraqi government would take the necessary actions to address the situation, respecting the sovereignty of the State of Kuwait and the treaties mutually agreed upon.
