Iraq's transport ministry has dissolved the national airline, Iraqi Airways, in the latest twist in a long-running dispute with Kuwait over its assertion that Iraq stole aircraft during the First Gulf War.
The dissolution is seen as an attempt to circumvent Kuwait's legal case.
Kuwait has demanded US$1.2 billion (Dh4.4bn) in reparations from the airline for the alleged theft of 10 aeroplanes and millions of dollars worth of spare parts during Saddam Hussein's 1990 invasion of Kuwait.
Since the Second Gulf War, Iraqi Airways has undergone an overhaul that includes launching its first international routes in the past year. Meanwhile, Kuwait has sought to freeze the company's assets worldwide.
"Iraq's cabinet decided to close Iraqi Airways and announced its bankruptcy because the company doesn't own any aeroplanes and because of the Kuwaiti government's cases raised against the company," Karim al Tamimi, a transport ministry spokesman, told the Associated Press yesterday.
"We hope in the future to replace it by two or three companies to resume its operations."
A spokesman for Iraqi Airways said he hoped to announce further details on the status of the flag carrier today.
Lawyers for Kuwait Airways denounced the latest move and said it would not deter them from seeking legal redress.
"It appears to me to be a sorry reflection of Iraq's attitude to its international commitments that liquidating its own national airline is seen as preferable to addressing those commitments," said Chris Gooding, a lawyer with the Fasken Martineau law firm.
Mr Gooding said the legal responsibility merely would be transferred from Iraqi Airways to the Iraqi government. The Iraqi authorities' "conclusion is entirely false. Any such move will not lead to the dropping of claims", he said.
"Kuwait Airways' legal team have been faced with this suicide threat - 'come any closer and I jump' - for years and has full contingency plans in place."
On Tuesday, Iraqi Airways said it had cancelled routes to the UK and Sweden after Kuwait tried last month to confiscate the airline's first plane to fly to London in 20 years.
Lawyers working for Kuwait tried to confiscate the aeroplane that made the flight but were foiled when it turned out to have been chartered from a Swedish company and not owned by Iraqi Airways.
At the time, Kifah Hassan Jabbar, the director general of Iraqi Airways, had his passport seized in the UK and was forced to stay for more than a week because of the Kuwaiti claims.
Mr Jabbar issued a statement on Tuesday about the cancellation of routes in which he criticised Iraq's government as failing to resolve the dispute with Kuwait. Iraq has said in the past that it repeatedly called for talks over the case to solve it in a "friendly way" but that the Kuwaitis did not respond.
* with agencies
igale@thenational.ae
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
Hydrogen: Market potential
Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.
"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.
Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.
The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
MATCH INFO
Crawley Town 3 (Tsaroulla 50', Nadesan 53', Tunnicliffe 70')
Leeds United 0
Indian origin executives leading top technology firms
Sundar Pichai
Chief executive, Google and Alphabet
Satya Nadella
Chief executive, Microsoft
Ajaypal Singh Banga
President and chief executive, Mastercard
Shantanu Narayen
Chief executive, chairman, and president, Adobe
Indra Nooyi
Board of directors, Amazon and former chief executive, PepsiCo
MATCH INFO
Newcastle United 3
Gayle (23'), Perez (59', 63')
Chelsea 0
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
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Transmission: 6-speed auto
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A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
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Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
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Honeymoonish
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Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
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Squid Game season two
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Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
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More coverage from the Future Forum
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
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What is 'Soft Power'?
Soft power was first mentioned in 1990 by former US Defence Secretary Joseph Nye.
He believed that there were alternative ways of cultivating support from other countries, instead of achieving goals using military strength.
Soft power is, at its root, the ability to convince other states to do what you want without force.
This is traditionally achieved by proving that you share morals and values.
'My Son'
Director: Christian Carion
Starring: James McAvoy, Claire Foy, Tom Cullen, Gary Lewis
Rating: 2/5