KUWAIT CITY (AFP) -- Kuwait's prime minister has accepted an invitation to visit Iraq, in what would be a first since ousted Saddam Hussein's forces invaded the Persian Gulf emirate 18 years ago.

Iraqi Finance Minister Bayan Jabr Solagh delivered the invitation to the premier, Sheikh Nasser Mohammed al-Ahmad al-Sabah, on Sunday during a visit to discuss debt and war reparations, according to an official statement on Monday.
“The premier accepted the invitation and its date will be determined soon through diplomatic channels,” said the statement, quoted by the state-run KUNA news agency.
Solagh told reporters at the airport that it was agreed the visit would take place after the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan which comes to an end by the end of September.
Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed al-Sabah earlier said the emirate was awaiting the return to Baghdad of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani who is convalescing in the United States following heart surgery last month.
Sheikh Mohammed said that during the visit, Kuwait's newly appointed ambassador, former army chief Ali al-Momen, would present his credentials -- becoming the first Kuwaiti ambassador to Baghdad since the 1990 invasion.
Solagh said the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding to resolve a dispute between their national airlines over compensation claims.
Kuwait has been holding back two civilian aircraft that Baghdad had purchased from a Canadian company, demanding payment of compensation.
“We have agreed to resolve the dispute between Kuwait Airways and Iraqi Airways. We have agreed on the main points and left a technical team to discuss the details,” Solagh said, without providing details.
The two neighbors have yet to settle a number of issues related to debt and war compensation estimated at tens of billions of dollars.
Solagh said the issues were discussed during talks with the Kuwaiti premier and that the two countries have some “joint ideas” about them. He did not elaborate.
Kuwait has claimed damages from Iraq for the invasion and the seven-month occupation by Saddam's forces, which were expelled in 1991 by a U.S.-led coalition.
Iraq in April called on Persian Gulf states to waive compensation and debt. The United Arab Emirates last month waived seven billion dollars that Baghdad owed and other states have promised to follow suit.
Baghdad is required to pay five percent of its oil revenue into a fund created by the UN Security Council to pay compensation for war damage linked to the Kuwait occupation.
Figures released at the time showed the UN compensation fund has received claims worth 354 billion dollars, but had approved payments of just over 52 billion dollars, including around 45 billion dollars for Kuwait.
The fund had paid out more than 21 billion dollars, including around 11 billion dollars for Kuwait.
Saddam was toppled after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and executed for crimes against humanity in December 2006.