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21:35 GMT
NEW YORK, Feb 20 (KUNA) -- Kuwait on Tuesday commended UN help of the Iraqi government and people during this "sensitive and difficult" time specially following liberation of all territories from so-called Islamic State (IS).
Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, addressing a UN Security Council session on Iraq, commended UN for its keenness to coordinate and work side-by-side with the Iraqi government in line with UNSC resolution 2367 (2017).
Kuwait reiterates support for UN assistance mission in Iraq (UNAMI), the UN Secretary General's representative to Iraq and his deputy for political affairs, said Sheikh Sabah, whose country holds the February presidency of the UNSC.
He congratulated the Iraqi government and people on victory against IS, and praised sacrifices of the Iraqi people in the war against terror.
Sheikh Sabah hoped the Iraqi government capture the terrorists as well as strengthen national judicial system.
He underlined that Kuwait was always standing by the Iraqi people, citing His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's hosting of an international conference for the reconstruction of Iraq earlier this month.
He said countries, private sector companies and civil society organizations that took part in the February 12-14 conference - co-chaired by Kuwait, Iraq, the UN, the EU and the World Bank - pledged USD 30 billion in loans, credit facilities and investment.
These pledges, said Sheikh Sabah, should improve living conditions, develop infrastructure and create safe environment in liberated areas.
Sheikh Sabah said Kuwait allocated USD one billion in loans and another USD one billion in investment.
The Kuwaiti top diplomat said his country allotted over USD 200 million to Iraq in 2016.
Sheikh Sabah also noted that Kuwait hosted a ministerial meeting of the international coalition fighting IS. (end)
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