BAGHDAD, July 27, (Agencies): Baghdad called on Kuwait Wed-nesday to suspend work on a controversial megaport until Iraq is assured its shipping lanes will not be squeezed by the project but Kuwait said work on the project will continue. Kuwait, however, rejected the call.
The $1.1 billion (778 million euros) facility, on Kuwait’s Bubiyan Island, is scheduled for completion in 2016. Baghdad fears the Mubarak port will compete with its own Faw and Khor al-Zubair ports and “strangle” Iraq’s shipping routes.
“The Iraqi government asks the Kuwaiti side to stop work on the Mubarak port until we are assured that Iraqi shipping lanes, and free and safe navigation, will not be affected,” government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said in a statement.
“There is no information and data to assure the Iraqi government that its navigation interests will not be damaged” by the project, the statement said.
It requested Kuwait to “hand over all information needed by Iraq to ensure that its rights will be preserved.”
At a news conference Wednesday, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said his country would send an expert mission to Kuwait, but did not specify when.
He said Kuwait had agreed to receive a mission of experts and officials from several ministries “to find a solution acceptable to both sides.”
“We try to resolve the problem through official channels to guarantee Iraq’s interests and freedom of navigation,” Zebari said. “We want a positive approach, and do not seek an escalation,” he added.
Zebari stressed that relations with Kuwait remained delicate.

A Kuwaiti foreign ministry official expressed “dismay” at the “statement made by the spokesman of the Iraqi government, who called on the state of Kuwait to halt work in Mubarak Al-Kabir port project.”
Kuwait “confirms that construction work at the Mubarak port will continue,” said the unnamed official quoted by the state news agency KUNA, adding that Iraq “has no legal basis” to call for a halt.
However, the official said Kuwait was ready to “receive again an Iraqi technical delegation to be briefed on technicalities related to the project” after having done so in May.
In August 1990, troops under Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait and occupied the country until being driven out by an international coalition in early 1991.
“Aug 2 will be the anniversary of the invasion of the emirate by Iraqi forces and the crimes they committed. In our comments, we must respect the sensitivity of our neighbour,” Zebari added.
“Kuwait has every right to build on Bubiyan, which is its territory, and there is no dispute about that. Our problem is the freedom of navigation in the channel leading to Khor al-Zubair,” a major port Iraq is developing.

“Kuwait has the right to lead this project, but we are neighbours, so we need an explanation in defence of our interests,” Zebari said.
Kuwait’s Al-Seyassah daily quoted government spokesman Ali al-Rashid on Wednesday as saying the emirate would not stop construction and will “continue until the end.”
“We won’t be intimidated by any remarks,” defied Al-Rashid, who also doubles as Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs.
But, he said: “Kuwait cannot cause any obstacle, harm or problem to its neighbors.” However, he added: “Kuwait won’t condone any infringement upon its sovereignty. What is happening at Mubarak Al-Kabir port falls within Kuwaiti sovereignty so we cannot accept any interference in this respect.” The spokesman went on to say: “The technical aspects of this project have proved undoubtedly that the position of Mubarak Al-Kabir port won’t impede Iraqi navigation.”

A Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry source added that such call by Iraq has no legal basis due to the fact that the port is being built on Kuwait’s territory and waters, especially since Iraq has repeatedly stated that building such port “will not” become on obstacle to sea navigation in Abdullah creek.
The source explained that out of the spirit of cooperation, the State of Kuwait had received an Iraqi technical delegation on May 26-28, 2011, which had been briefed with all details regarding the project, including answering all queries related to any concerns “with transparency,” noting that the port will not affect navigation routes based on UN Security Council resolution 833/1993, section (5), which states respect to navigation rights based on international law and decisions of UNSC.