Kuwait Airways will not make any concession in Iraq row: Chairman

Kuwait Airways Chairman Hamad al-Falah stated the carrier would not make any concessions in a row with Iraq over war reparations (Reuters/al-Anbaa/Arabian Business, 01-Jun-2011). Kuwait and Iraq have been involved in a long-running dispute over reparations from Iraq, including around USD1.2 billion related to aircraft and parts seized during former dictator Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait. "We will not compromise one fils. Kuwait Airways sought several times to end this crisis, yet Iraq didn't show any seriousness to pay the due amounts. What Iraq wants is to settle the debts without paying any money," he said. In May-2011, Iraq said it would dissolve Iraqi Airways over the next three years and pursue private options to avoid asset claims made by Kuwait over the 1990-91 war.