Kuwait split on Iraq invasion day

The Iraqi forces left devastation in their wake

The Kuwaiti media are divided over relations with Baghdad on the anniversary of Iraq's invasion of Kuwait.

Some papers urge the government to open a new chapter in bilateral ties with Iraq and call too for domestic reforms.

Others remain deeply sceptical and stress the need for Iraq to apologise before any healing of relations can begin.

Public opinion too is mixed as Kuwaitis mark the day that saw Iraqi tanks roll into the capital leading to the seven-month annexation of the country.

'Opportunities'

Kuwait must turn over a new page now that it has an opportunity with the new Iraq government Al-Qabas

The daily Al-Qabas praises Kuwait on this "painful anniversary" for what it says was a "brave decision" to help "liberate Iraq".

"Now that the anniversary is behind us and Iraq has closed a black page in its history," the paper says, it is time for Kuwait to make the most of the "opportunities".

Kuwait's decision to aid Iraq, it says, will "lay the foundations for new relations with the Iraqi people".

Al-Ra'y al-Am urges the government to take advantage of the situation and spearhead reform in order to preserve Kuwait's position on the international stage.

"Reform, development and change," it says, are "priorities" for Kuwait.

"The areas range from women's rights to the oil fields, from modern legislation to amending the electoral system," it says.

The paper also warns against bowing to US and other international pressure and says it is Kuwait's "internal stability" that will ensure its development.

No power on earth will be able to erase the memories from the collective conscience of the people Al-Anbaa

Day of remembrance

The daily Al-Anbaa, however, continues to cold-shoulder any idea of a restoration of relations with Baghdad.

It stresses that the Kuwaiti people will not be able to "forgive and forget".

"We will forget like the Koreans forgot the Japanese occupation and the French, the German occupation," the paper says.

"No power on earth will be able to erase the memories from the collective conscience of the people," it adds.

Any healing of relations with Iraq, it says, will necessitate Baghdad relinquishing its "ambitions" in Kuwait.

The paper also demands full compensation for Kuwaitis from Baghdad and information on the fate of prisoners of war.

Despite the wounds of the invasion, Kuwait continues to aid the Iraqi people Kuna

The news agency Kuna also continues to count the days since Kuwaitis went missing and notes that the remains of only 11 POWs have been found so far.

"After 4,747 days of detention, the fate of over 600 Kuwaitis and third country POWs is still unknown," it says.

'Positive stance'

Kuna strikes a more upbeat note in its assessment of Kuwaiti aid to Iraq.

"Despite the wounds of the invasion, Kuwait continues to aid the Iraqi people," it says in a commentary.

Kuwait, it says, worked to overcome its painful past by adopting a "positive stance" during the Iraq war.

"Kuwait has stressed the deep-rooted ties that connect the Kuwaiti and Iraqi people, as they were both the victims of a brutal regime that committed horrible crimes against them," it says.

The papers also publish opinion polls on Kuwaiti attitudes towards Iraq.

Asked by Al-Watan whether they were still afraid of Iraq, 50% of people said 'yes', 40% 'no', and 10% abstained from voting.

Around 50% of those polled were opposed to re-opening Iraq's embassy in Kuwait, while just over a quarter were in favour.

Those who were against said there was no guarantee Iraq would not carry out another invasion.

Another poll by Al-Anbaa shows Kuwaitis to be split roughly 50-50 over restoring diplomatic ties with Baghdad.

Those polled expressed concern that Iraq should apologise for the invasion, provide Kuwaitis with compensation and recognise international borders.

However, almost 80% of respondents are in favour of sending assistance to Iraq.

BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.