BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Kuwait's prime minister will travel to Baghdad this week in the Gulf state's first high-level visit to Iraq since Saddam Hussein invaded his tiny neighbor in 1990, an Iraqi government official said on Sunday.
Kuwait Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser al-Mohammad al-Sabah will meet his Iraqi counterpart, Nuri al-Maliki, during the visit, the official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
The leaders will discuss reparations for Iraq's invasion and occupation of Kuwait, debts and borders, he said.
Under U.N.-imposed peace terms after the war, Iraq must pay 5 percent of oil income in compensation to Kuwait and other countries. Iraq was driven out of Kuwait in 1991 by a U.S.-led, U.N.-authorized coalition.
Since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 to topple Saddam Hussein, Washington has been pressing its Arab allies to forgive Iraqi debts and to restore high-level diplomatic ties.
On Sunday, Iraq's national media centre reported that Saudi Arabia would soon open an embassy in Iraq, but did not say when.
Baghdad is also seeking forgiveness of loans Kuwait made to Iraq during its 1980-1988 war with Iran. Yet many Kuwaitis are still bitter about the 1990 invasion.
The United Arab Emirates recently waived all of Iraq's almost $7 billion obligations.
The other day David was talkng with a young female student about the women's right to vote (just recently aquired here). And they were talking about women becoming a member of parliment. And David made a comment like..."well the Emir (word for King) has to approve of this..." and this young woman said "well I was talking to my grandfather last night and he said he wouldn't have to approve this"... meaning that her grandfather is the Emir.
The al Sabah family is the ruling family here. I've got 6 6th graders with that last name. They are all sweet kids, respectful, not expecting any special treatment. I've got a set of twins boys that are a lot of fun. I'd like to invite them to visit the cabin next summer. Yes ignorant western woman truly doesn't realize what she's saying...
It's interesting to drive by the Palace (and I mean Palace) It goes on and on for about 12 city blocks...and I'm not exagerating. And I guess it's just one of the palaces. Oh well, at least there are less Million--Billionaires here than Dubai-the neighboring country. Maybe they could buy me a couple boxes of $9 Mini Wheats. Maybe they could just buy me General Mills.
The hunt continues for THAT Rich Kuwaiti who will come home with us and save the future of Education in Pelican Rapids (vote YES on that referendum folks!) I know he's out there and I'm gonna find him...
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