BAGHDAD. Nov 10: Iraq recognised Kuwait today and promised to respect Its new UN-defined borders, reports Reuter.

A statement signed by President Saddam Hussein as chairman of the ruling Revoju-tionajy Command Council (RCC) laid to rest Iraq's longstanding claim to Kuwait as its 19th province.

By accepting the border dratvn by a UN commission it also met one of the ceasefire terms Baghdad accepted after its forces, which conquered the emirate in a lightning invasion in August 1990. were driven out by a US-led alliance in February 1991.

The RCC statement was released shortly after the National Assembly passed a similar

resolution.

"The Republic of Iraq recognises the sovereignty of the State of Kuwait, fts territorial integrity and political independence." .the statement said.

It said Iraq also "recognises the International boundary between the Republic of Iraq and the-State of Kuwait as demarcated by the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait boundary demarcation commission... and respects the inviolability of the said boundary."

Recognition of the border is a vital step before. Iraq can win UN Security Council permission to resume exports from its vast oil reserves, and release Its economy from crippling, four-year-old trade sanctions.

Russia, successor of Iraq's

former superpower ally the Soviet Union, helped broker a settlement during Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz's visit’to Moscow this week -

Russian Foreign Minister Andrei. Kozyrev met Saddam on. Thursday morning, then addressed a special, open session of Parliament urging acceptance.

Parliament gave him a standing ovation.

"The National Assembly declared Its support of the recognition by the Republic dT Iraq of the sovereignty of the State of Kuwait and Its territorial integrity and political independence. and its support for compliance with United Nations Security Council resolution 833.” a statement by Parliament said.