Location chosen to provoke Iraq, claims Al-Mutlaq

An Iraqi MP yesterday further ratcheted up tension over Kuwait's Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port project, likening Kuwait's insistence on continuing with its plans for the port's construction to the actions of the Israeli authorities towards Palestinians, while the country's deputy premier suggested the port's location had been selected specifically to provoke Iraq. MP Alia Nsayef suggested that any cooperation shown by Kuwait with Iraq over port project would ultimately improve Kuwait's image at regional and international gatherings, rather than making its actions comparable to those of the Israeli authorities. The MP further claimed that the countries of the region and the world have a negative view of Kuwait's stance on the issue, feeling that Kuwait's behavior is racist and isolationist, and leading to the world viewing Kuwaitis as the "Jews of Arabia," an old but controversial slur used against the Kuwaiti people. The MP stopped just short of direct threats, saying that progress on the port project will be stopped sooner or later whether or not Kuwait likes it, and insisting that Kuwait must seize the opportunity to end work on it now in order to enhance its image regionally and internationally and demonstrate respect for neighboring countries and international agreements. Deputy Iraqi President Saleh Al-Mutlaq also weighed in on the issue, suggesting that the location selected for the port was chosen in a conscious effort to provoke Iraq. Al-Mutlaq voiced hope that the Kuwaiti people would put pressure on those attempting to create rifts between the brotherly nations to desist from doing so. Speaking during a meeting with tribal heads from the Basra area, the Iraqi Deputy Premier said, "We look upon the Kuwaitis as our beloved brothers and have no intention to cause fear in any Kuwaiti woman as happened previously. At the same time, however, we feel the pain of the wrongdoing being perpetrated by the Kuwaiti side. Al-Mutlaq also warned that the construction of the port could threaten the proposed rail link between Kuwait and Iraq, saying, "We stand firm against any attempt to increase cooperation with any state attempting to hurt Iraq and nobody should dream that a railway link will be made with any state that wishes to strangle Iraqi.