LOC23:46
20:46 GMT
KUWAIT, Jan 8 (KUNA) -- Visiting Iraqi Vice President Tareq Al-Hashemi said
Tuesday his country sought to establish neighborly ties with Kuwait based on
respect for the independence and sovereignty of Kuwait.
In statements to the press following his visit to the Grand Mosque here,
Al-Hashemi identified himself as "one of the Iraqi political leaders who
aspire for close and distinguished ties with the state of Kuwait."
"Such ties should be based on setting aside mistakes and follies of the
Iraqi deposed regime of the past that brought miseries for both peoples of the
two countries," he underscored.
"The current government of Iraq holds in high esteem the Kuwaiti people and
leadership," he asserted, calling for seizing the present "golden opportunity"
for cementing bilateral ties.
"My meetings with the Kuwaiti leaders aimed to turn a new leaf in bilateral
relations," he said.
Asked by KUNA on the role of Kuwait's International Moderation Center
(IMC), the Iraqi leader said his country was in bad need for the role and the
praiseworthy efforts made by the center to unify the ranks of the Muslim
nation.
The IMC fights extremist mentality and intolerant way of thinking, thus
painting the Muslim world in bright light.
During their tour of the Grand Mosque and the IMC, Al-Hashemi and his party
were accompanied by Kuwaiti Minister of Awqaf (endowment) and Islamic Affairs
Minister and Minister of Communication Abdullah Al-Muhailbi.
Al-Muhailbi said he briefed the senior guests on the IMC activities in line
with the desire of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber
Al-Sabah.
The Iraqi dignitaries hailed the efforts of the center in combating
extremism and intolerance, he added.
Responding to Al-Hashemi's call for giving Iraq a priority in the
activities of the center, Al-Muhailbi said the center would spare no effort in
serving the Iraqi bothers and put all its resources at their disposal. (end)
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