Political crisis hindered Maliki’s Kuwait visit

12/01/2012 18:39 BAGHDAD, Jan. 12 (AKnews) – Political crisis in Iraq has caused an expected visit by the Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to Kuwait be postponed indefinitely.

Maliki was expected to discuss with Kuwaiti authorities pending issues between the two countries in an official visit to the neighboring country by the end of December or early January.

“Maliki’s visit was delayed for two reasons, mainly because of political disputes in the country, and the Kuwaiti government’s preparations for elections” said Maryam al-Ris, an adviser in al-Maliki’s office. But the visit will come soon, she said and details of the visit will be announced before he heads to the neighboring country.

Iraq is undergoing a political crisis as the mainly Sunni bloc has boycotted parliament sessions after the Shiite-dominated authorities in Baghdad tried to put leading Sunni figures on trial for terror charges.

There are several issues lingering between Kuwait and Iraq that frequently spark tensions between the two neighbors: shared oil fields, land and water border demarcations, and the controversial Kuwaiti Mubarak Port which Iraqis believe will take business away from their ports and effect fishermen working in the Gulf.

By Mohammed al-Tayyib

RY/AKnews