Foreign Office Minister, Brian Wilson, held talks with Kuwaiti Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Shaikh Mohammed Sabah, on 10 April. The talks focussed on Iraq. Afterwards Mr Wilson said:

'Shaikh Mohammed and I share the disappointment of the whole Arab world at Iraq's stance at the recent Arab Summit. Once again, the Baghdad regime demonstrated its disdain for the views of its fellow Arabs and the international community, refusing to confirm acceptance of Kuwait's borders and co-operate with the Tripartite Commission to trace the Kuwaiti missing.

'Britain remains committed to upholding Kuwait's sovereignty and territorial integrity and keeping the Baghdad regime in check. At the same time, we will continue helping the Iraqi people, with whom we have no quarrel.

'As a result of our initiative to abolish the ceiling on the amount of oil Iraq can exchange for humanitarian goods, Iraq has had 14 billion Dollars to spend on humanitarian relief since the end of 1999. In addition, Britain has donated around 100 million Pounds since 1991, both bilaterally and via the European Union.

'Meanwhile, as the UN Secretary General's last report on the 'oil for food' programme shows, Baghdad's policies are causing suffering among the Iraqi people.'