BEIRUT, Lebanon, March 27 (UPI) -- Kuwait said Wednesday it still does not trust Iraq's intentions, making a possible accord to restore normal ties between the two countries difficult.
"It is impossible that we put the sovereignty and stability of Kuwait within the circle of Iraqi intentions," Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah al Ahmed Jaber al Sabeh said during the Arab summit meeting in Beirut. "They say the opposite of what they show."
Al Sabeh said Iraq's detention of more than 600 Kuwaitis was "a continued ordeal."
He renewed calls on Iraq to respect the security, independence and territorial integrity of Kuwait and "refrain from any provocative or aggressive action." Sabah also called on Iraq to release all Kuwaiti prisoners and detainees.
During the opening session of the summit, Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa said Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri informed him that his country would free a Kuwaiti citizen who was arrested three weeks ago when he crossed the border with Iraq.
The Kuwaiti foreign minister asked to make a comment on Moussa statement, but was ignored by Lebanese President Emile Lahoud.
Izzat Ibrahim al Douri, deputy president of the Iraqi Revolutionary Council, said he regretted Sabah's statement and affirmed his country's respect for Kuwait's independence and security within its internationally recognized borders.
Al Douri said this position was "never out of fear of the United States," but in response to the Arab will to reconcile both countries.
He said the U.N. economic embargo on Iraq should have been lifted and the destruction of Iraq's infrastructure and the peoples' ordeal should have stopped.
"Even if we don't achieve an accord to restore normal ties between Iraq and Kuwait, we wish to confirm our commitment to respect Kuwait's sovereignty, independence, stability and security within its internationally-recognized border," al Douri said.
He said Iraq had made several initiatives, including Iraq's withdrawal from Kuwait and renewed dialogue with the U.N. weapons commission, to put an end to the U.N. embargo and military attacks.
Al Douri appealed to the Arab countries to stand by Iraq in confronting continued threats against its territories.
