Thursday, May 19, 2011

Kuwait confident of Iran's goodwill: Kuwaiti emir

TEHRAN - Kuwaiti Emir Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah has said that Kuwait is confident of Iran’s goodwill.

The Kuwaiti emir made the remarks during a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi in Kuwait City on Wednesday.

“We are assured of the goodwill and brotherly goals of the Islamic Republic of Iran and attach high significance to relations with Iran,” the Kuwaiti emir stated.

Not only the Kuwaiti people but also the people in other member states of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council have always been seeking good relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Kuwaiti leader added.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Kuwaiti emir said that consultation is a good way to help find a solution to the crises taking place in the region.

He also thanked Salehi for the trips that he has made to Kuwait and certain other regional countries with the aim of clearing up the ambiguities and elaborating on Iran’s position toward the developments in the region.

So far the Iranian foreign minister has travelled to Qatar, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, and Kuwait to hold talks with Arab officials on the ongoing developments in the region particularly the pro-democracy uprising in Bahrain.

Salehi told the emir that the public demands made by the people in certain Middle Eastern and North African countries must be responded to in an appropriate way.

Commenting on the situation in Bahrain, Salehi said, “There is no military solution to the Bahrain issue, and the continuation of the presence of foreign forces in this country has complicated matters further.”

He added that negotiations among the Persian Gulf littoral states and closeness of stances will help improve security in this strategic region.

Salehi also said that the relations between the two countries are based on mutual trust.

In addition, Salehi held separate talks with Kuwaiti Prime Minister Nasser Muhammed al-Ahmed al-Sabah and Kuwaiti Parliament Speaker Jassem Al-Kharafi on Wednesday.

Iran, Kuwait agree to return ambassadors

Salehi also attended a press conference on Wednesday, in which he announced that Iran and Kuwait have agreed to exchange ambassadors again.

“It was decided that the ambassadors of the two countries will return to their posts as soon as possible,” Salehi stated.

On April 2, Kuwait expelled three Iranian diplomats in Kuwait City, alleging that they had links to a spy network.

On April 10, Iran expelled a number of Kuwaiti diplomats in a tit-for-tat move.

Kuwait claimed that a number of its officers have been gathering information about the U.S. military bases in Kuwait and passing it on to Iran, an allegation that the Islamic Republic rejected as baseless.

During the press conference, Salehi also replied to a question about the claims that a spy network linked to Iran was operating in Kuwait.

Iran completely dismisses the allegations, he said, adding, “However, every country has its own law, and we are optimistic about the final result.”

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