Kuwaiti emir lauds Iran’s role in fighting Daesh, developing Iraq’s economy

Rasa - Kuwait's emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, has praised Iran’s role in fighting the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group, and the Islamic Republic’s contribution to Iraq’s stability and economic development.

News ID: 436420

Date: 14 February 2018 - 23:47

RNA - The Kuwaiti emir made the remarks during a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Kuwait City on Wednesday on the sidelines of an ongoing international conference aimed at raising funds for reconstructing Iraq.

Sheikh Sabah also expressed hope that regional countries would resort to talks to settle any possible differences or division between them.

Zarif, for hid part, praised bids by the Kuwaiti emir to play a mediating role in regional conflicts, and expressed hope that such efforts would culminate in favorable results.

The two sides also underlined the need for the promotion of ties and direct consultations between the high-ranking officials of the two countries.

According to Press TV, the three-day Kuwait International Conference for the Reconstruction of Iraq opened in Kuwait City on Monday with the focus on the reconstruction of Iraq and vital issues concerned following more than three years of war on Daesh that left many parts of the Arab country in ruins.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in December declared victory in the war against Daesh, which controlled as much as a third of Iraq’s territory three years ago.

According to reports, billions of dollars were pledged Wednesday at the donor conference. Iraq, however, has said it needs far more donations. Baghdad has said it is seeking more than $88 billion to rebuild the country.

Iraqi officials estimate that $17 billion of the needed funds have to go toward rebuilding homes alone. The United Nations estimates 40,000 homes need to be rebuilt in Iraq’s second largest city of Mosul alone. The Daesh war reportedly led to the destruction of 147,000 housing units in the seven Iraqi provinces attacked by the militants.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said on Monday the Islamic Republic would continue to play a "supportive and constructive" role in Iraq's reconstruction and economic development.

He said the Islamic Republic did not hesitate to support the Iraqi nation and government, and it would continue to support them in the fight against terrorism.

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