Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and his Kuwaiti counterpart Ahmed Nasser al-Mohammed al-Sabah discussed bilateral relations between their countries and ways to develop those relations, according to a statement from the Iraqi foreign ministry.
Both ministers stressed “the importance of following up the events carefully and in light of crystallizing common positions in international organizations, as well as the importance of emphasizing the resolution of dilemmas via dialogue and negotiations,” the statement read, adding that both sides expressed happiness in Iraq’s “high level of coordination” with the countries in the region.
Iraq’s relations with Kuwait reached an all-time low when Iraq invaded its oil-rich southern neighbor in 1990, on orders from former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Relations improved after the fall of Hussein's regime in 2003.
Ties between the two countries have opened up to more development after the UN Security Council in February voted to end Iraq’s requirement to compensate victims of the 1990 invasion.
The council’s decision came after Iraq paid the final reparation installment to Kuwait in December.
The United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC), set up in 1991 as a result of Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, earlier in February announced that Baghdad had completed its payment of war reparations worth $52.4 billion to Kuwait.
Iraqi President Barham Salih at the time welcomed the council’s decision saying that “Iraq is moving towards a foreign policy based on establishing the best relations with our brothers, neighbors, and the international community and supporting the security and peace of the region as a common interest for all.”
