Iraqi premier commends Kuwaiti financial support to his country

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DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 22, (KUNA): Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi on Friday commended Kuwait’s $200 million financial assistance to help the country face its current crisis. Kuwait is the only Arab country that has given a helping hand amid the current sensitive conditions Iraq is going through, Al-Abadi told a panel session held on the sidelines of the 46th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

In the meantime, the premier noted that sectarianism feeds tension and inflames conditions in the region, thus enhancing the presence of the so-called Islamic State (IS). Al-Abadi stressed that IS does not have among its ranks any Iraqis, but “all its fighters are foreigners.” He expected IS to be defeated in Iraq this year through a plan that will bring together the different Iraqi parties to recover Mosul, noting that Iraq is playing a significant role to prevent the militant group from further expanding in the region. He severely criticized the emergence of IS in Syria, which later came to sweep through areas of Iraqi soil through extremist thoughts, backed by certain countries in the region.

Al-Abadi called other countries in the region to assist Iraq to “unearth the truth and defeat the sectarian messages that resulted from the policies of the Baath Party, followed by deterioration after 2003.” He laid part of the blame on “friends” who, instead of offering help, are absorbed in a conflict to dominate the region employing all possible arms, including sectarianism, for their own interests. In the meantime, Al-Abadi underlined the fact that the solution to the Syrian crisis is a political one.

For his part, Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam called for supporting the moderate powers in the region as the “major weapon” to face extremism and terrorism, considering the root reasons that led to the current situation. Salam referred to the “regional and international” dimensions of the Syrian crisis, pinning hope on the American-Russian efforts to dissolve it. He also stressed Saudi Arabia’s leading role in the Arab world, saying the Kingdom does not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, but on the contrary Iran that does.

He referred to the sectarian problem that troubles peoples of the region, and reiterated the high significance of peaceful coexistence, warning against further deterioration if it is affected. Both Al-Abadi and Salam shared the view that some governments in the region failed to realize the expectations of their peoples, who responded by revolting against them seeking their right in development and dignified life.

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