Iraq and Kuwait announced today, Saturday, a bilateral agreement to form a joint Iraqi-Kuwaiti task force tasked with reviewing all outstanding issues between the two countries, drafting a clear roadmap to address them, and submitting the necessary recommendations within a maximum period of 30 days.
Details of the Bilateral Agreement
This came in a joint statement issued by the Media Office of the Iraqi Prime Minister, based on the outcomes of the meeting that brought together Prime Minister Mr. Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi and His Highness the Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The key provisions of the agreement include:
Formation of a Joint Task Force: Responsible for reviewing outstanding issues and submitting joint recommendations to the leadership of both countries within a period not exceeding 30 days.
Meeting Mechanism: Holding regular and continuous meetings of the team alternately between the capitals, Baghdad and Kuwait, until its tasks are fully completed.
Ongoing Political Support: Both sides affirmed their full support for the team's work and their keenness to ensure the success of its mission, contributing to closing outstanding files and opening new horizons for cooperation and strategic partnership to serve the interests of the two brotherly peoples.
Context of Strengthening Gulf Relations
This development comes within the framework of the Iraqi government's continuous efforts to repair and develop its relations with its Gulf and regional environment. In this context, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein had previously emphasized (on June 30th) during a joint press conference with the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi, in Baghdad, that the government attaches utmost importance to restoring relations with the Gulf countries to their normal and excellent track and overcoming the repercussions of previous regional crises.
