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In the early hours of 2 August, Iraqi forces crossed Kuwait's internationally recognized boundaries, penetrated Kuwait's territory and reached its populated area. The Kuwaiti Govemment issued a statement a few hours ago.
"Iraq occupied Kuwait at dawn today. The Iraqi forces have penetrated and occupied ministries, and the headquarters of the Government has been shelled. Crossroads have been occupied. A short time ago, Baghdad Radio announced that the aim of the invasion of Kuwait is to stage a coup d'état to overthrow the régime and establish a new régime and a Government friendly to Iraq".
In that respect, I should like to assure the Council that Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sa'ad Al-Abdulla Al-Sabah, the Prime Minister, and the Government of Kuwait remain in control in Kuwait and are defending the country's security.
Iraq's pretext for invading an independent, sovereign State is false and unwarranted. This matter is a cause for surprise in terms of international relations and particularly of relations between friendly, sisterly countries. If not deterred in a decisive manner by the Council, such action will threaten all international relations. No country will be safe after this, and the security, sovereignty and territorial integrity of every State will be jeopardized.
It is indeed alarming that the invasion should come from Iraq, an Arab country with which we share a number of ties rooted in history. It is equally appalling that the invasion should come less than one day after a round of talks between our two countries in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia, at the very high political level of deputy leader of each country. In those talks, the Kuwaiti delegation was headed by Sheikh Sa'ad Al-Abdulla Al-Sabah, the Prime Minister, and the Iraqi delegation was headed by Mr. Izzat Al-Doury, the Deputy Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council.
