KUWAIT: Visiting
Iraqi Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ambassador Hazem Al-Yousefi announced
yesterday that Iraq handed over to Kuwait 42,000 books belonging to Kuwait
National Library and Kuwait University. These books, recently found in Iraq,
were "seized" by troops of the former Iraqi regime during Kuwait's
occupation in 1990, Yousefi said in a statement to journalists on sidelines of
the delivery ceremony. Iraqi authorities are seeking to close file of Kuwaiti
properties in Iraq before the yearend, said Yousefi, adding competent
authorities were waiting for a decision in this respect by Prime Minister Adel
Abdelmahdi.

Moreover, Iraq is
exerting tremendous efforts to close file of the missing Kuwaitis, the Iraqi
undersecretary stated. The Baghdad authorities are using satellite images and
advanced drilling machines, he said, reconfirming that the intensive efforts
led to the recent discovery of the mass grave in Samawa desert containing remains
of 46 human bodies, 32 of whom were identified as deceased Kuwaitis.

Yousefi affirmed
that the Iraqi government is serious about efforts to close all pending files
"caused by the former regime". Stressing the depth of the ties
between the two brotherly countries, the Iraqi official indicated at reciprocal
visits by senior officials of the two countries as a prelude to a new period of
relations, joint investments and mutual cooperation.

Kuwaiti Assistant
Foreign Minister for International Organizations' Affairs Counselor Abdulaziz
Al-Jarallah confirmed that the ministry of foreign affairs had taken delivery
of 800 boxes containing 42,000 books from the Iraqi side. The books belong to
the national library and Kuwait University, he added. The books and other items
that had been brought back were part of Kuwait's archives, which were stolen
during the blatant Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990.

The issue of
Kuwaiti prisoners and missing persons was discussed with the Iraqi
undersecretary as a humanitarian cause that concerns all Kuwaitis, he said,
re-stressing that the Kuwaiti government represented by the foreign and
interior ministries would spare no effort to close this file and determine the
fate of all those missing. He expressed gratitude to the United Nations for
sponsoring the handover in line with Security Council Resolution 2107 (issued
in the year 2013) that partially mentions the necessity of bringing back
Kuwaiti properties looted during the invasion.

Meanwhile, Dr
Kamel Abuljelil, Director General of the National Library and Secretary General
of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, said the books and items
are of valuable content, expressing pleasure over handing them back in a move
that will bolster bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries,
anew.

Acting UN
Resident Coordinator Hideko Hadzialic congratulated the Iraqi and Kuwaiti
leaderships for this tangible improvement in bilateral relations, also valuing
Kuwait's constructive role at the Security Council, in addition to its hosting
a conference for rebuilding regions liberated from the so-called Islamic State
in Iraq, resulting in the allocation of $30 billion for this purpose. She also
voiced satisfaction with Iraqi government efforts for backing cooperation and
friendly ties with Kuwait, an approach that will facilitate resolving difficult
issues between the two sides. - KUNA