Kuwait Urges Caution After Iraq Scraped Maritime Navigation Agreement

Kuwait has reacted swiftly to Iraq's recent decision to annul the Kuwait-Iraq agreement on regulating navigation via Khor Abdullah and to scrap a security coordination protocol while reserving the right to consider the agreements effective. Due to a loophole in coordination between the two countries' security authorities, these steps could result in chaotic conditions in the northernmost Gulf waters, where illegal drug and arms trade might thrive.

Kuwaiti diplomacy made its voices heard at the highest and most diverse levels, namely at the United Nations, where His Highness the Amir's representative, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, declared that the Iraqi court ruling was based on false allegations. In addition, Sheikh Ahmad emphasized to the world community that slack security in these strategic and sensitive waters will enable terrorists to use proceeds from illegal trade to fund their activities.

In 2012, Kuwaiti and Iraqi governments endorsed the treaty regulating navigation along the waterway. According to Law 42/2013, it had been approved by the Iraqi parliament, while Law 4/2013 had been approved by the Kuwait National Assembly. The United Nations had received a copy of the agreement.

In his reaction during the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, His Highness Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf stated, “We in the State of Kuwait were surprised with the ruling of the Supreme Federal Court in the brotherly Republic of Iraq stipulating non-constitutional bases of the law of endorsing the 2012 treaty for regulating the navigation via Khor Abdullah.” The treaty that had been endorsed and deposited with the UN was peppered with false historical information regarding the State of Kuwait. According to Sheikh Ahmad.

In the aftermath of the controversial and groundless court verdict, Sheikh Ahmad revealed that Baghdad, surprisingly too, scrapped the “security swap protocol,” which was signed by the Kuwaiti and Iraqi navies in 2008, warning that this decision would adversely affect marine security and navigation through Khor Abdullah. "The State of Kuwait will consider the Khor Abdullah agreement and the security swap protocol effective for maintaining marine security and sanctity," he said. These two accords, His Highness the Prime Minister explained further, “prevent chaos and borders breaches by traffickers of arms and narcotics, two main sources for funding various terrorist militias.” “From this highly prestigious podium where the march of multiple-party diplomacy had been launched to preserve global security and peace, the State of Kuwait affirms the necessity that the government of the Republic of Iraq takes decisive and tangible measures to tackle repercussions of the rule and the distorted historic information for sake of preserving the good neighborliness relations.

Aside from this, my country emphasizes the importance of maintaining the security, independence, and territorial sanctity of the two countries, the endorsed treaties between them, the sanctity of their territories, and international resolutions relevant to each. “His Highness the Amir Representative said at the UNGA session that according to Security Council resolution 833, land and sea borders were demarcated until marine mark 162,” he said. He called on Iraq to "substantiate its good intentions" and complete the border demarcation work until Mark 162 according to international laws and covenants."

 

Get The Latest and important news on our Telegram Channel click here to join

Comments Post Comment

Leave a Comment

Submit