Kuwait keen on Iraq's security, stability - Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled

KUWAIT, Dec 15 (KUNA) -- First Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah said Monday Kuwait was keen on security and stability of Iraq, and that fighting terrorism in Iraq was in the interest of the region and whole world.
"Iraq is facing dangerous challenges, foremost fighting terrorism," Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled told reporters on sidelines of a reception held by Bahrain Embassy on the eve of the Gulf country's national day.
The international community has formed a coalition consisting of 60 countries to help Iraq in the fight against terrorism, he added.
Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled was asked about Kuwait's position regarding the Iraqi finance minister's request that Kuwait delays Baghdad's last payment of compensations the Iraqi government was paying for damages caused by the 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. The UN Compensation Commission (UNCC) will examine the Iraqi request, answered the Kuwaiti official.
"Kuwait will always act towards the alleviation of these difficulties facing the brothers in Iraq within the jurisdictions of the UNCC and without undermining the Security Council resolutions," he added.
Asked about the postponement of the Kuwait-Iraq joint committee meeting, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled said the two countries agreed to postpone the meeting after the visit of Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar Al-Abadi, due in the coming days.
Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled said a joint special committee was registering all Kuwaiti properties in Iraq and the Iraqi properties in Kuwait.
Asked about Arab-American discussions over the Middle East peace process, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled said an Arab group, chaired by Kuwait, would be meeting the French Foreign Minister in Paris tomorrow, but Kuwait would not be attending the meeting for "special circumstances." The Arab group will also meet US Secretary of State John Kerry in London tomorrow to exchange views over the peace process, he added.
Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled said the Arab group was acting to put a specific timetable to end the Israeli occupation and establish the Palestinian state on the June 4 1967 borders. (end) hrz.bs