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View Full Version : Iraq rejects foreign interference in internal affairs -- says Zebari


BIG WAVE
03-25-2006, 08:25 AM
KHARTOUM, March 25 (KUNA) --
Iraqi foreign minister Hoshyar Zebari said Saturday his country rejected foreign interference in its internal affairs, noting that Iran did not seek to topple the new regime in Baghdad.

"We refuse this interference be it from Iran or Turkey," Zebari told a news conference.

"Iran does not seek to topple the new Iraqi regime, and it considers the Iraqi regime a friendly one," noted Zebari while talking about the neighboring countries.

He, meanwhilie, said there was a lack of Arab presence in Iraq despite efforts of the Arab League.

Zebari said Iraq suffered the lack of an active Arab role. He called on the Arab countries to send official delegations to Iraq.

"Today we demand the immediate implementation of the Arab resolution to open a mission for the Arab League in Baghdad," said Zebari and affirmed all security and housing facilities were completed.

The foreign minister said an Arab ministerial committee approved a draft resolution on Iraq, to be referred to the Arab summit on Tuesday.

Zebari said the Iraqi national conciliation conference, due in Baghdad in June, would be discussed by the Arab leaders.

The Iraqi foreign minister said the situations in Iraq were tough, adding that the political and religious leaderships were confronting violence, which he described as non-sectarian.

"Not all areas witness terrorist operations," affirmed Zebari. The deployment of the multi-national forces was preventing the eruption of a civil war, he added.

He said the forthcoming government in Baghdad would be of a government of national unity. Zebari hoped the government would be formed very soon. He added, meanwhile, that Iraq would request the Arab countries to extend financial assistance to Baghdad and help in reconstruction.

On the presence of the US and British forces in Iraq, Zebari said the troops were in Iraq in compliance with UN resolution 1546. The withdrawal of these forces, he added, was linked to the political and security stability in the country.
http://www.kuna.net.kw/home/story.aspx?Language=en&DSNO=842268

BIG WAVE
03-25-2006, 08:27 AM
KHARTOUM, March 25 (KUNA) --
Arab League secretary general Amr Moussa said Saturday Arab foreign ministers have approved a draft resolution over Iraq to be referred to the summit, slated for March 28-29.

Moussa told reporters after a meeting of Arab ministerial committee on Iraq that they have also agreed to enforce the Arab role to shape up the future of Iraq and the need to forming a government of national unity, in addition to sending the Arab League mission to Baghdad.

The ministers, according to Moussa, also agreed to write off the debts on Iraq and extending economic assistance to the Iraqi people. It is unclear what is the mechanism of the debt question.

Moussa denied sending Arab or Islamic forces to Iraq.

Iraqi foreign minister Hoshyar Zebari praised outcome of the meeting and said the committee members discussed the affirmation of the Arab presence in Iraq and visiting Iraq at the official and popular levels.

Zebari said they committee members underlined importance of the Iraqi national conciliation conference, due in Baghdad in June.

On sending Arab and Islamic forces to Iraq in line with a US proposal, Zebari said "We did not hear about this request. This request is not on the table and the Arab countries have refused to send any forces to Iraq." The Iraqi foreign minister said contacts were underway to form a government of national unity. He hoped this government would be formed before end of next month.
http://www.kuna.net.kw/home/Story.aspx?Language=en&DSNO=842154