Expats appreciated - Iraq resumes paying war damages

KUWAIT: Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al- Jarallah (center), Indian Ambassador K Jeeva Sagar and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Abdou Lahad Mbacke jointly cut the cake to celebrate India’s 69th Republic Day on Wednesday. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

KUWAIT: Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah said he reviewed the sisterly relationship between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia during his meeting with Saudi Ambassador Dr Abdulaziz Al-Fayez. "We expressed regret over the offending remarks on (Kuwait's) respectable Minister Khaled Al-Roudhan who is held in high esteem by everybody," Jarallah said. "We strongly reject such offending comments that could tamper with the close and distinguished ties between the two countries. We are confident that the brothers in Saudi Arabia are similarly keen on maintaining these ties," he told reporters during a reception held on Wednesday by the Indian Embassy in Kuwait to celebrate the Republic Day of India. Jarallah added that the talks with Fayez were positive and constructive.

Expat workers

Meanwhile, Jarallah said expatriate workers in Kuwait enjoy care and appreciation. The affairs relating to their stay and work contracts are governed by the relevant rules of law, he told reporters. Citing the annual review reports that praise Kuwait's human right records, he said the country addresses the issues of foreign expats in "a candid and transparent way that preserves their rights" as per the provisions of law.

"These issues as well as the recent incident do not affect the country's humanitarian fame," Jarallah told reporters. "The huge expatriate community in Kuwait, including nearly 276,000 from the Philippines, testifies to the care and stability enjoyed by the expats. Filipino workers enjoy comfortable conditions that guarantee their rights regardless of the recent unjustifiable fuss," he pointed out.

On behalf of Kuwait, Jarallah expressed regret over the comments recently made by President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte over Filipino workers in Kuwait. The Kuwaiti foreign ministry made its point clear to the Filipino authorities regarding the reported cases and demanded evidence of any cases, but they failed to produce any, Jarallah revealed. Asked whether Kuwait plans to amend the provisions of the labor law, particularly those relating to domestic workers, Jarallah said the current law is modern and has won praise of competent international organizations. He affirmed that the countries that have large expatriate communities in Kuwait were informed that their nationals are held in high esteem and enjoy care and respect. He ruled out any plans to suspend the residencies of any Filipino workers.

Iraqi damages

Jarallah also said the Iraqi government resumed paying compensations to Kuwait relating to the 1990 invasion. Iraq started a month ago paying the installments of the compensations agreed with Kuwait under auspices of the United Nations Compensation Commission, he said. The payments will continue until 2021, Jarallah told reporters. On the property of Kuwaiti citizens in Iraq, he said contacts are underway with the Iraqi authorities to enable the Kuwaitis to restore these properties. Iraq was forced to stop paying the installments of the compensations to Kuwait in 2014 due to the security challenges that added strains on the state budget.

Kuwaiti detainee

Jarallah also lauded as responsive the approach of the Iranian authorities to Kuwait's demand for releasing Faleh Al-Azmi, a Kuwaiti national detained in Iran. "During my meeting with Iran Ambassador to Kuwait Dr Ali Reza Enayati yesterday, I felt a responsive attitude towards solving this issue as early as possible," Jarallah said. "Ambassador Enayati affirmed that the Iranian authorities are serious in addressing this issue," he told reporters. The Kuwaiti citizen was arrested in last September for entering into a prohibited area in Iran by mistake while coming from Turkey.