BIG WAVE
03-25-2006, 02:33 AM
Arab ministers meet in Khartoum to discuss Iraq
(With a Photo) KHARTOUM, March 25 (KUNA) -- An Arab ministerial committee was meeting here Saturday to discuss latest political and security developments in Iraq.
The committee groups the foreign ministers of Iraq, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Syria in addition to the Arab League secretary general Amr Moussa, sources close to the meeting told KUNA.
Kuwait is represented by its permanent representative to the Arab League and its Ambassador to Egypt, Ahmad Khaled Al-Kulaib.
The sources said the officials were discussing an Arab strategy to helping Iraq politically and in reconstruction, as well as following up resolutions of the council of the Arab League and the Arab summit to assist Iraq.
Iraqi foreign minister Hoshyar Zebari submitted a detailed report about the developments in Iraq and the efforts to forming the Iraqi government, and the political process in the country.
Moussa briefed the meeting about the Arab League's efforts to helping the Iraqis in their political process and to complete the preparations for the national conciliation conference, due in Baghdad early in June, said the sources.
Moussa also briefed the committee members that the League invited the Arab institutions to prepare detailed plans to help the Iraqi institutions in the reconstruction. Moussa talked about the steps taken to appoint a representative for the Arab League in Baghdad, Moroccan Ambassador Mokhtar Lamani, as well as coordination with the Iraqi government to opening an office in Baghdad following the formation of the government.
The sources said the committee members approved to refer a draft resolution over the Iraqi file to the preparatory meeting of the foreign ministers, due to commence later today.
Lamani, for his part, said he placed a plan of action for his mission in Baghdad.
This plan is based on three pillars, he explained, holding meetings with different political forces to prepare for the national conciliation conference, cooperating with Western capitals primarily Washington and London, and implementing the resolutions of the Arab summit.
Lamani, in press remarks on sidelines of the committee meeting, said the formation of the Iraqi government was a necessity to restore order and stability in Iraq.
He hoped ongoing negotiations to forming the government in Baghdad would end soon.
Lamani, however, said the role of the neighboring countries of Iraq was below expectation.
He said sending forces from Arab and Islamic countries to Iraq to replace the Western forces was not on the table at the moment.
"But if the idea was proposed and there was a desire from the concerned parties, specially in Iraq, there would be a possibility to discussing this issue," said Lamani.
He said his mission in Baghdad would be difficult because of the complicated situation in Iraq.
http://www.kuna.net.kw/home/story.aspx?Language=en&DSNO=842066
(With a Photo) KHARTOUM, March 25 (KUNA) -- An Arab ministerial committee was meeting here Saturday to discuss latest political and security developments in Iraq.
The committee groups the foreign ministers of Iraq, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Syria in addition to the Arab League secretary general Amr Moussa, sources close to the meeting told KUNA.
Kuwait is represented by its permanent representative to the Arab League and its Ambassador to Egypt, Ahmad Khaled Al-Kulaib.
The sources said the officials were discussing an Arab strategy to helping Iraq politically and in reconstruction, as well as following up resolutions of the council of the Arab League and the Arab summit to assist Iraq.
Iraqi foreign minister Hoshyar Zebari submitted a detailed report about the developments in Iraq and the efforts to forming the Iraqi government, and the political process in the country.
Moussa briefed the meeting about the Arab League's efforts to helping the Iraqis in their political process and to complete the preparations for the national conciliation conference, due in Baghdad early in June, said the sources.
Moussa also briefed the committee members that the League invited the Arab institutions to prepare detailed plans to help the Iraqi institutions in the reconstruction. Moussa talked about the steps taken to appoint a representative for the Arab League in Baghdad, Moroccan Ambassador Mokhtar Lamani, as well as coordination with the Iraqi government to opening an office in Baghdad following the formation of the government.
The sources said the committee members approved to refer a draft resolution over the Iraqi file to the preparatory meeting of the foreign ministers, due to commence later today.
Lamani, for his part, said he placed a plan of action for his mission in Baghdad.
This plan is based on three pillars, he explained, holding meetings with different political forces to prepare for the national conciliation conference, cooperating with Western capitals primarily Washington and London, and implementing the resolutions of the Arab summit.
Lamani, in press remarks on sidelines of the committee meeting, said the formation of the Iraqi government was a necessity to restore order and stability in Iraq.
He hoped ongoing negotiations to forming the government in Baghdad would end soon.
Lamani, however, said the role of the neighboring countries of Iraq was below expectation.
He said sending forces from Arab and Islamic countries to Iraq to replace the Western forces was not on the table at the moment.
"But if the idea was proposed and there was a desire from the concerned parties, specially in Iraq, there would be a possibility to discussing this issue," said Lamani.
He said his mission in Baghdad would be difficult because of the complicated situation in Iraq.
http://www.kuna.net.kw/home/story.aspx?Language=en&DSNO=842066