By NNN-KUNA
Kuwait : Visiting Iraqi Vice President Tareq Al-Hashemi has said that his country sought to establish neighbourly ties with Kuwait based on respect for the independence and sovereignty of Kuwait.
In statements to the press following his visit to the Grand Mosque here Tuesday, Al-Hashemi identified himself as “one of the Iraqi political leaders who aspire for close and distinguished ties with the state of Kuwait.”
“Such ties should be based on setting aside mistakes and follies of the Iraqi deposed regime of the past that brought miseries for both peoples of the two countries,” he underscored.
“The current government of Iraq holds in high esteem the Kuwaiti people and leadership,” he asserted, calling for seizing the present “golden opportunity” for cementing bilateral ties.
“My meetings with the Kuwaiti leaders aimed to turn a new leaf in bilateral relations,” he said.
Asked by KUNA on the role of Kuwait’s International Moderation Centre (IMC), the Iraqi leader said his country was in bad need for the role and the praiseworthy efforts made by the centre to unify the ranks of the Muslim nation. The IMC fights extremist mentality and intolerant way of thinking, thus painting the Muslim world in favourable light.
During their tour of the Grand Mosque and the IMC, Al-Hashemi and his party were accompanied by Kuwaiti Minister of Awqaf (endowment) and Islamic Affairs Minister and Minister of Communication Abdullah Al-Muhailbi.
Al-Muhailbi said he briefed the senior guests on the IMC activities in line with the desire of the Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
The Iraqi dignitaries hailed the efforts of the centre in combating extremism and intolerance, he added.
Responding to Al-Hashemi’s call for giving Iraq priority in the activities of the centre, Al-Muhailbi said the centre would spare no effort in serving the Iraqi brothers and put all its resources at their disposal.