His Highness Amir's KICRI initiative supports Iraq financially, morally -- Jaafari

KUWAIT, Feb 15 (KUNA) -- Iraq's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al-Jaafari said on Thursday that His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's initiative to host the Kuwait International Conference for the Reconstruction of Iraq (KICRI) has provided financial and moral support for Iraq.
In a press statement to reporters at National Assembly on Thursday, Al-Jaafari described this initiative as a "courageous" and "leading step".
Having expected more pledges, he said Iraq needs USD 88 billion for the process of reconstruction, while the gathering provided USD 30 billion, he noted.
"We appreciate these efforts and look forward to further aid from world's countries which stand by Iraq," he told reporters.
The Iraqis and Kuwaitis have common views that dictatorship had ruled Iraq for 35 years and imposed suppression on Kuwait's sovereignty for seven months, he stressed.
The Kuwaitis are one of the region's nations who realize well the danger of Saddamism, he stated, referring to the former regime of Saddam Hussein that governed Iraq for decades.
"We look forward to exchanging interests on political and economic levels," he affirmed.
The Iraqi official, meanwhile, stressed the necessity of promoting and cementing parliamentary relations between the two countries.
He pointed out that he and National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim discussed the Kuwaiti-Iraqi dossiers, describing the meeting with Al-Ghanim and MPs as "distinguished". (end) nsh.hm