Iraq moves to repair ties with Kuwait

BAGHDAD, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Iraqi lawmakers called on the government Wednesday to work toward bettering diplomatic relations with Kuwait, a spokesman said.

Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said a ministerial council urged the move as past relations with Kuwait derive from the former regime and activities from the Gulf War in 1991.

Dabbagh said Iraqi lawmakers were keen on working toward "serious negotiations based on mutual respect" with Iraq's southern neighbor, Tehran's al-Alam news agency said.

Iraqi Speaker of Parliament Mahmoud al-Mashhadani said in 2007 he would visit Kuwait to settle any outstanding issues between the two countries but later backed out of the trip.

Nearly half of the members of the Iraqi Parliament later signed a petition calling for negotiations with Kuwait.

Iraq is obligated to pay more than $12.5 billion in debt to Kuwait from the former regime for damage inflicted during the invasion and occupation of Kuwait in 1990.

Kuwait in April said it would review the debt but noted any changes should derive from the U.N. Security Council.

Iraq and Kuwait restored complete diplomatic relations in 2004.