Kuwait, Lebanon seek to boost Iraq ties

By Mohammed Abbas

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Kuwait named an ambassador to Baghdad on Thursday and a top Lebanese politician urged more investment in Iraq, highlighting the Arab world's growing interest in the Shi'ite-led country it once shunned.

Arab states have been reluctant to extend legitimacy to the U.S.-backed government despite pressure from Washington, which wants more regional engagement to dilute the influence of neighboring Shi'ite Iran.

A senior Kuwaiti diplomatic presence -- its first since former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in 1990 -- would be a milestone for Baghdad's push for better regional ties given many Kuwaitis are still bitter about the Iraqi occupation.

A fall in violence to four-year lows has led to a flurry of high-level visits from foreign capitals, which previously cited security concerns for not sending officials to Baghdad.

Continuing his push to encourage investment in Iraq, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki will visit Germany and Italy next week, the government's spokesman said

Ali al-Dabbagh said Maliki would first visit Germany during the July 21-25 trip. He would meet government leaders in both countries and also hold talks with Pope Benedict.

Kuwait's KUNA state news agency said Ali al-Mumin, a former senior military official, had been named as envoy to Baghdad.

"A decree will be issued appointing Ali al-Mumin as ambassador to Iraq," the agency said, without giving details of when he would arrive in the Iraqi capital.

No Arab ambassador has been stationed in Iraq since Egypt's envoy was kidnapped an killed shortly after arriving in 2005.

The United Arab Emirates and Jordan have named ambassadors in recent weeks, but they have not yet taken up their posts. Bahrain has said it would also name an envoy to Baghdad soon.

RARE VISIT BY LEBANESE OFFICIAL

Senior Lebanese politician and billionaire businessman Saad al-Hariri met Maliki earlier on Thursday.

Hariri, a Sunni Muslim, is head of the largest parliamentary coalition in Lebanon, which has its own sectarian divisions. Rival Lebanese leaders last week ended weeks of wrangling to form a unity government.

"Iraq and Lebanon are similar in the struggles they face. We are in the same situation. I believe Iraq is a democratic country and this democracy must succeed in Iraq, as it must succeed in Lebanon," Hariri told reporters.

His visit comes a week after Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan traveled to Baghdad. Jordan's King Abdullah is also due to visit soon.