As regards the Iraqi affairs, the Ministerial Council reviewed the current events in the Iraqi arena and the deteriorating security and human situation there as a result of the escalating violence. It reaffirmed its known and permanent positions on Iraq, especially its condemnation of all criminal and terrorist acts targeting civilians, abducting innocent people, ambassadors and other members of diplomatic corps, humanitarian and religious bodies. It supported all exerted efforts that had been aiming at bringing about Iraq's national reconciliation and ensuring participation of all factions of the Iraqi people in the political process to avoid negative results on Iraq's integrity, independence and sovereignty. The Ministerial Council renewed its hope that the Iraqi people would be united to achieve security, stability, prosperity and the national territorial integrity as well as preserve the Arab and Islamic identity of Iraq and ensure its return as an effective member in its nation and the international community. It also expressed hope that Iraq would restore its security, stability, prosperity and it would return to play its positive role as an effective member in Gulf, Arab and international arenas by committing to the international legitimacy decisions and to live in peace and harmony with its neighbors and the rest of the world. The Ministerial Council condemned the acts of the previous Iraqi regime, resulting into the mass killings of the Iraqi people, taking of hostages and detaining a number of people from Kuwait and other countries. It urged the United Nations to forge cooperation with the Iraqi government and other concerned parties to intensify efforts to find a final solution pertaining to the return of Kuwaiti properties and national heritage items and documents that had been stolen by the former Iraqi regime during its occupation of Kuwait.--MORE1330 Local Time 1030 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/287690