By Sherouq Sadeqi
WASHINGTON, Aug 3 (KUNA) -- The talks H.H. the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah held with U.S. President Barack Obama were "very fruitful," Kuwait Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah affirmed here Monday.
Following the meeting H.H. Sheikh Sabah held with Obama, Sheikh Dr. Mohammed said that bilateral relations were discussed during the meeting, as well as Arab relations, as H.H. the Amir is the chairman of the Arab economic Summit and in light of Kuwaits chairmanship of the GCC summit, due at the end of the year.
The Foreign Minister added that among the topics discussed were the "Peace Process in the Middle East, Iraq, and Iran." He noted that H.H. the Amir informed Obama of the "importance" of having "real progress" on the Middle East peace process and that such "track would be according to what has been agreed on during the Beirut Arab Summit and the Peace Arab Initiative which Kuwait is committed to." He stressed that "this requires initiatives from the Israeli side to respond to the Arab initiative" and that Israel "works on activating the principals of the Madrid Conference and the Arab Initiative." "We also discussed with President Obama the Kuwaiti-Iraqi relations and affirmed that there is no Kuwaiti-Iraqi dispute but there are differences in viewpoints but no dispute," Sheikh Dr. Mohammed pointed out.
He said "We supported and welcomed the report of the UN Secretary General and we positively reacted to it. We are ready to meet with our Iraqi brothers under the UN umbrella, as called upon by the Secretary General to discuss the speed up and facilitation of Iraqs implementation of the international resolutions, which would speed up Iraqs exit of Chapter VII." He affirmed "We want to help and cooperate with Iraq in this matter and we have agreed to hold several meetings under the UN umbrella to help Iraq implement these commitments." Kuwaits Foreign Minister indicated that the Iranian nuclear file issue was discussed and "we affirmed and stressed the importance to cooperate with this dossier through the diplomatic channels." Furthermore, Sheikh Dr. Mohammed affirmed that H.H. the Amir praised Obamas "first message and desire" to close down the Guantanamo detention camp and return the four Kuwaiti detainees. "Obama has promised to follow-up with H.
H. the Amir on this issue," he noted.
On the Mideast Peace Process, the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister stressed that the "bigger burden is on Israel," and if Israel is "willing to fulfill the desire of the U.S. President in the establishment of two states." "We have made it clear that normalization is a result not a reason. Normalization is the result of the Peace Process. How can we start normalization when there is continuous and ongoing aggression," Sheikh Dr. Mohamed remarked.
H.H. the Amir met at the White House earlier today with US President Barack Obama where the meeting focused on means to boost bilateral relations and also touched on the Mideast and other regional issues.
Following the talks, Obama hosted a luncheon banquet in honor of H.H. the Amir and his accompanying delegation. (end) si.ajs KUNA 032356 Aug 09NNNN