LOC09:09
06:09 GMT
NEW YORK, Sept 23 (KUNA) -- Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al-Jaafari has said Kuwait could play a major role in the confrontation of terrorism in the region.
"Kuwait has suffered from terrorism and occupation in the past" thus deeply understanding the threat of terrorism and can play a major role in confronting it, Al-Jaafari said in a statement to KUNA after a meeting with First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, at UN Headquarters last night.
Kuwait, in its capacity as the rotating presidencies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Arab League, can contribute to improving relations between Iraq on one side and the two organizations on the other, he said.
"Kuwait has good relations with all countries and has a balanced policy with all. We hope this presidency will have positive impacts on the GCC and the Arab countries," said Al-Jaafari.
With the wisdom of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, he added, "we hope relations with Kuwait bilaterally and with the region through Kuwait could become stronger."
On his meeting with Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled, Al-Jaafari said they discussed future relations and how to help the Iraqi people against growing threat of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
They also discussed Kuwait's support to Iraq, he said.
"We are looking forward to boosting relations not only in the political domain but in investment and exchange of expertise," said Al-Jaafari.
The Iraqi top diplomat meanwhile said his country was facing "difficult" challenges however the Iraqi people have a strong will and were capable of overcoming them.
The attacks waged by ISIL against the Iraqi people forced displacement of some 1.8 million people.
He acknowledged that Iraq needed a long time to address repercussions caused by the ISIL. "We need to repair the damage and the Iraqi will is serious in address it," he added. (end)
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