Senior Kuwaiti, Iranian legislators discuss cementing ties

Deputy Speaker of Kuwaiti National Assembly Mubarak Al-Khurinij on Tuesday held talks with Iranian Shura Council's Vice Speaker Mohammad Hassan Abu Turabi on means of cementing Iranian-Kuwaiti relations and issues of common concern. Al-Khurinij, during the meeting, held on sidelines of the Sixth Plenary Session of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA), underscored the good ties bounding Kuwait with Iran and aspiration to develop this relationship further, against backdrop of a recent declaration by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani affirming Tehran's desire to enhance cooperation with the Arab Gulf states. On Iran's nuclear issue, Al-Khurinij affirmed, in line with guidelines of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, states' rights to harness nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Differences among nations should be resolved with peaceful and diplomatic means, he said. Iran is a friendly Muslim, neighboring state and "we have not forgotten its support for Kuwait during the invasion waged by the former Iraqi regime," the Deputy Speaker of the Kuwaiti Parliament stated. Al-Khurinij said information he presented at the APA general convention about tragic conditions in Syria were based on reports of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. He further stressed in this respect on necessity of finding a peaceful settlement to the crisis that could meet aspirations of the Syrian people, also branding Iran's participation in the planned Geneva-II conference for Syrian crisis as important, for Tehran "is a major player" on the regional arena. "We hope the Syrian cause be resolved as soon as possible for we can't remain patient toward scenes of annihilation and killing and also we can't be tightlipped, and how can we, along with Iran? having tasted bitterness of injustice from the Iraqi aggression," he said alluding to the 1990 invasion of Kuwait and the war between Iraq and Iran in the 80s. For his part, Abu Turabi expressed aspiration to bolster Iran's ties with Asian nations, particularly regional and Gulf States, namely Kuwait, at cultural and economic levels. Kuwait is distinguished with an atmosphere of democratic freedom and a "strong Parliament," existence of which depicts the Kuwaiti people robust advocacy of democracy, he said, affirming necessity of bolstering the bilateral parliamentary links at the political, economic and cultural levels. On the West-Iran nuclear deal, he said recent negotiations between the two sides resulted in "recognizing Iran's right to produce and harness nuclear energy for peaceful purposes," expressing hope "such recognition would last in the future." Regarding Syria, the leading Iranian legislator expressed his belief that the solution of the crisis lies in halting supplies of arms to the gunmen, ceasing the blood-shedding, aiding victims' families and mapping out a plans to elect a new government that could adopt the Syrian people aspirations. Meanwhile, Al-Khurinij held talks with Speaker of the Pakistani National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on bilateral ties and conveyed greetings of Speaker of the National Assembly Marzouq Ali Al-Ghanim, also relaying an invitation to the top Pakistani lawmaker to visit Kuwait. Sadiq underscored necessity of strengthening the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the Kuwaiti and Pakistani Parliaments and Governments.