INTERNATIONAL PROGRESS ORGANIZATION
A-1010 Vienna, Kohlmarkt 4
Vienna, 8 October
1993/P/K/14069c-is
IRAQ/KUWAIT
In a statement issued today, the President of the International
Progress Organization (I.P.O.) called for the immediate release of all
Kuwaiti prisoners of war (POWs) in Iraq. Prof. Koechler referred to
Amnesty International's report of 8 September 1993 concerning the
detention of Kuwaitis and third-country nationals in Iraq.
The I.P.0. considers the repatriation of all prisoners and detainees
as a basic requirement of international humanitarian law and as an
important step towards the establishment of durable peace in the
region. The I.P.O. therefore welcomes the steps taken by the
International Committee of the Red Cross as a neutral intermediary.
The President of the I.P.0. earlier today briefed former Austrian
President Dr. Kurt Waldheim about the issue of Kuwaiti POWs. The ex-President and former Secretary-General of the United Nations declared
his readiness to intervene for their immediate release.
Prof. Koechler further stated that the I.P.0. - as an organization in
consultative status with the United Nations - is ready to co-operate
closely with other non-governmental and humanitarian organizations in
that regard.