Kuwait has announced that it would fund the reconstruction of the Safwan border crossing with Iraq as part of an endeavor to activate economic cooperation between the two countries.
They signed an agreement during the seventh session of the Kuwaiti-Iraqi joint committee meeting in Kuwait under the chairmanship of Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Al Khaled Al Hamad Al Sabah and Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammed Ali Al-Hakim.
The Safwan border crossing is considered the main passage between Iraq and Kuwait.
A statement issued Sunday by the Border Crossing Authority said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the two countries to prepare the infrastructure for the crossing.
The Iraqi news agency said the two sides agreed that Kuwait would build the crossing as part of a Kuwaiti grant and provide necessary operational infrastructure.
It added that an MoU would be signed by Baghdad and Kuwait at a later stage to define the obligations of both sides concerning the port’s operations.
An Iraqi delegation was in Kuwait last Saturday to attend preparatory meetings of the joint committee under the chairmanship of Kuwaiti Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah and Iraqi Foreign Ministry’s Undersecretary Nizar Khairallah.
The Kuwaiti official said the current session reflects the eagerness of both countries’ leaders to push bilateral relations forward.
For his part, the Iraqi official spoke highly of Kuwait’s support to Baghdad, expressing hope that the meeting would create an opportunity for the two sides to explore joint strategic projects.
Meanwhile, Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah met at the Bayan Palace Sunday with Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammad Ali Al-Hakim, who praised Kuwait’s support for his country.
The two states are expected to sign five cooperation deals on economy, transport, sports, science and technology.
