BAGHDAD: Iraq and Kuwait will work to reach at a definitive deal on demarcating their borders, including a contested maritime Gulf area, their foreign ministers announced on Sunday.
The de facto land and maritime borders between the neighboring countries were set up by the UN in 1993, three years after Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein attacked Kuwait.
While Iraqi officials have previously showed a readiness to recognize its neigbour’s land border, the maritime border is still point of contention.
Iraq insists that the delineation should provide it full access to Gulf waters, a lifeline for its oil exports its economy.
Due to the old conflict, Kuwaiti coast guards regularly arrest Iraqi fishermen and seize their boats for “illegally” encroaching Kuwaiti territorial waters.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, after meeting his Kuwaiti counterpart Salem Al-Sabah in Baghdad, on Sunday, said that during their meeting, resolving the border issues was emphasized, according to AFP.
Iraq to host first meeting on 14 August
He told journalists the border negotiations would continue through different technical committees.
Baghdad will arrange a meeting of a legal committee relating to the negotiation on 14 August.
Sabah said there was complete consensus between the two countries to resolve outstanding issues, especially the demarcation of maritime boundaries.
