Kuwait demanded today, Tuesday, that the Baghdad government address the ruling of the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court which deemed the ratification by the Iraqi parliament in 2013 of the maritime navigation agreement in Khawr Abd Allah between the two countries unconstitutional. The Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council President emphasized the importance of respecting and implementing the agreements signed with Kuwait.
Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah stated in television remarks, "We hope the Iraqi government takes the necessary steps to address this issue," and to respect Kuwait's sovereignty and the signed agreement between the two nations.
On September 4, the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court ruled that the law ratifying the agreement between the Iraqi government and the Kuwaiti government regarding maritime navigation in Khawr Abd Allah was unconstitutional, according to the court's website. The website indicated that the ratification of the agreement violated the provisions of the Iraqi Constitution, which stipulates that "the process of ratifying international treaties and agreements is regulated by a law passed by a two-thirds majority of the members of the Council of Representatives."
This agreement was signed in Baghdad in 2012 and ratified by the parliaments of both countries in 2013. The Kuwaiti Foreign Minister expressed strong condemnation of this ruling, noting that he came to New York with the sole purpose of informing the foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council and friendly countries, as well as the UN Secretary-General, about the details of the ruling issued by the Iraqi court.
The Kuwaiti minister said, "Here we are, after thirty years or more (since the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait), hearing the same thing from the Iraqi side. This is something we strongly denounce." He clarified that the foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council met "as a group" with the U.S. Secretary of State, "and there was complete support for our viewpoint."
In a subsequent development, the President of the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council confirmed to the Kuwaiti ambassador in Baghdad the importance of respecting and implementing the agreements made between Iraq and Kuwait.
The Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council stated on its website that its president, Judge Faik Zidan, received the Kuwaiti ambassador to Iraq, Tarek Al-Farij, today and emphasized "Iraq's respect for the State of Kuwait historically, presently, and in the future, and the independence of the State of Kuwait throughout different historical stages." He also stressed the "importance of respecting and implementing the agreements and treaties concluded between Iraq and Kuwait according to constitutional and legal contexts, and respecting the implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions."
