KUWAIT CITY, Dec. 13 (Xinhuanet) -- The Kuwaiti people appreciate the apology of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) chief Mahmoud Abbas regarding the PLO's stance over the 1990 Iraqi invasion, Kuwaiti Parliament Speaker Jasem al-Kharafi said Monday."This is a step in the right direction to create more understanding and cooperation between the two states," Kharafi was quoted by the Kuwait News Agency as saying.

    Upon his arrival in Kuwait on Sunday, Abbas immediately statedan apology over the PLO's stances supporting the 1990 Iraqi occupation of Kuwait.

    Kharafi stressed the Kuwaiti people do not seek vengeance but demand justice, expressing hope other PLO figures who had and still have negative stances and opinions would mend their ways as well.Kharafi also addressed the issue of the Palestinian presidential elections and wished Abbas success.

    Abbas arrived in Kuwait as the first leg of a Gulf tour aiming at restoring and boosting Palestinian-Gulf relations and breathing fresh air into Kuwaiti-Palestinian relations in particular.This is the first visit by a Palestinian leader to Kuwait since ties were frozen 14 years ago over Yasser Arafat's backing of the Iraqi invasion against the tiny neighbor. Enditem