The relations between the Iraqi and the Kuwaiti peoples were very strong and friendly, and the relations between the tribes and families in both countries were very good, because they were not only based on interests and business, but also based on blood, tribal ties and marriage relationships between the Iraqi and Kuwaiti families. That is why the relationships between the two peoples were distinguished. However, the aggression of Saddam and the leaders of his party against Kuwait destroyed these relations and created mutual hatred, after centuries of good relationships and mutual compassion. This aggression ended the mutual visits between the Iraqi and Kuwaiti families, which were common in the past against the background of their friendship. These visits were welcomed at any time.

Kuwait and its families have never been so far away from Iraq and the Iraqi families as they are today. There used to be many common traditions and habits, as well as mutual visits between the Kuwaiti and the Iraqi families, not to mention their cooperation in many fields and sectors. However, the invasion of Kuwait, which was ordered by Saddam twenty years ago, planted hatred and a grudge in their souls, and the two parties have lost their brotherly relationships that used to connect them in the past. The Kuwaitis hated the Iraqis for this invasion, and the Iraqis hated the Kuwaitis because they demanded that a 10-year siege be imposed upon them, which embittered the life of the Iraqis. All this happened because of the decision of Saddam to invade Kuwait and declare it an Iraqi province. Saddam destroyed Kuwait and burnt it to the ground, in addition to demolishing all its vital institutions, in a stupid move that cost Iraq and the Iraqi families a great deal, in addition to the losses of Kuwait and the Kuwaiti families. After that invasion, the good relationships between the two peoples were disturbed forever.

I believe that Iraq and Iraqis are not obliged to regain the confidence of Kuwaitis, because Kuwait must get rid of its complexes, which sparked the conflict between Iraq and Kuwait more than two decades ago. Thus, Kuwaitis must remember that the policies of their regime toward Iraq have not been positive since then. They must also bear in mind that today’s Iraq is not the Iraq of the past, during Saddam Hussein’s rule. In fact, today’s Iraq is free and democratic, and it wants peace for itself and others. Besides, the Iraqis seek peace and cooperation with their brothers in Kuwait on many occasions. Thus, Iraq must be dealt with on this basis. On the other hand, I think that the cultural and trade exchanges between both countries will contribute a lot to improving the relationship between them and break the barriers between these two neighboring Arab countries. I also think that the improvement in the relationships will increase as the amounts of exchanges get higher, because it will strengthen the trust and love between two neighboring peoples, who were victims of their ex-regimes’ conflicts. I hope that Kuwait will take the initiative in order to fulfill the desired convergence. In fact, nowadays, Iraq is trying hard to ease the tension between the two countries and start a new era where friendliness and mutual respect prevail.

Iraq and Kuwait are neighboring countries that have a lot of similarities, but Kuwait does not want to be a good neighbor to Iraq, and Kuwaitis always want to stay away from creating relations with Iraq because of the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait under the former regime. The bilateral relations between the two countries cannot become good, in my view, as there is still hatred inherited by the generations on both sides, knowing that Iraq and Kuwait have many things in common, including work and the oil wells. Notably, Kuwait has done more than what Iraq has done in the past, but we do not want to mention such details, which injure the heart. One of these actions is the seizure of Iraqi Airways and Iraq’s dissolving of this company; it is one of the sad memories for Iraq and the Iraqis, as well as other things that we do not want mentioned. But in general, we hope that relations in the future will be better and good, because now they are not good. We would like the two countries to communicate, to find solutions that will bring the two peoples closer together, more and more.

The Iraqi and Kuwaiti people are brothers forever.

The Kuwaitis should not hold the Iraqi people responsible, since it was only Saddam was behind the treachery and betrayal, while the people were forced into it.