(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) By Alaa Al-Huwaijel
BAGHDAD, Nov 19 (KUNA) -- Iraqi President Fuad Masum will visit Kuwait on Monday to discuss vital topics such as the compensations file, the borders issue, and ways to boost and enhance relations.
The visit is also seen as a step to coordinate efforts for the upcoming international donors' conference for the rebuilding of Iraq, which will be hosted by Kuwait early 2018.
In an interview with KUNA on Sunday, President Masum said that he would meet with His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah during the one-day visit, while his accompanying delegation of Iraqi ministers will hold talks with their Kuwaiti counterparts.
On the upcoming donors' conference, President Masum hailed Kuwait's support to Iraq by hosting the international event.
Masum called on Kuwaiti companies to invest in Iraq, noting that his country will priorities Kuwaitis investments and businesses.
Meanwhile, the President said Iraq is working on boosting its relations with the GCC states, the Arab World, and other countries in the region.
Speaking on the compensations issue, Masum said his country is facing an economic crisis due the high military expenses of the campaign against the fight against the so-called Islamic State (IS) since 2014.
He expressed Iraq's commitment to the payment of compensations; however, Masum hoped the Kuwaiti side would postpone the procedure to a year.
Meanwhile, the Iraqi President stressed the importance of resolving the borders issue, which had created a bit of a friction between the two countries.
He also touched on the issue of the remains of missing Kuwaiti POWs in Iraq, noting that his government did not uncover any new information on this matter.
As for the tantalizing issue of the Kurdistan independence referendum, which occurred on September 25, Masum said that Kurdistan authorities had respected the decision of the Iraqi court on the illegality of the separation. Since the step was against the constitution, the two sides decided to close this file, he added.
The President noted that both Baghdad and Irbil are working on electing a new governor for Kirkuk Governorate. He added that his government is committed to hold the parliamentary elections on May without any delay to avoid any tension in the country. (end) ahh.ag
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