BAGHDAD, 17 August — Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri Al-Hudaithy said yesterday that his country was ready to resume relations with Kuwait and Saudi Arabia if the two Arab neighbors take “effective and practical steps to prove their good intentions.”
This is the first response from Baghdad after Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, expressed in a recent interview with Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper Saudi Arabia’s readiness to welcome Iraq back into the Arab fold.
In an interview with Al-Zawra weekly owned by Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s eldest son Uday, Hudaithy said Baghdad wanted to have good relations with all Gulf countries including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
“What is required from the two governments is to take effective and practical steps to prove their good intentions,” the Iraqi minister was quoted as saying.
Hudaithy also urged Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to prevent the US and British forces from using their military bases.
In his interview with Asharq Al-Awsat on Aug. 8, Prince Sultan denied reports that military aircraft carrying out strikes on Iraq take off from Saudi territory. Planes flying from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries are on air surveillance and security missions only. “They are not at all allowed to conduct military operations,” Prince Sultan told the London-based Arabic daily. “We are ready to forget the past and overcome the present difficulties and we welcome Iraq’s return into the Arab fold. We don’t have anything against Iraq,” the prince said.
