Thursday, March 01, 2007
Tentative date for Baghdad regional security conference
Region, Security, Politics
(AP) Iraq's neighbors, including Iran and Syria, have agreed to join U.S. and British representatives at a regional conference here on the Iraqi security crisis, government officials said Wednesday. Deputy Foreign Minister Labid Abawi told The Associated Press that Russia and France were studying the invitation, but "I don't see any sign they will refuse."
"Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia, even the U.S and Britain have informed us they will participate," he said, although Tehran has said publicly it has made no decision. Abawi also said China had agreed to attend. Abawi said the date would be set within two days. Iraqi state TV said the tentative date was March 10.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's adviser, Sami al-Askari, also said neighboring countries had agreed to come. Iran has publicly said it is studying the invitation. "The conference will be important. It will prove that Iraq is politically capable of holding such a conference. It will send a message to the world," Abawi said. Al-Askari said it would allow countries such as the U.S., Iran and Syria "to sit down together without paying a political price."
Washington's willingness to attend the conference marked a diplomatic turnabout after months of refusing dialogue with Tehran over calming the situation in Iraq. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Tuesday that the United States would join the meeting and that Washington supported the Iraqi government's invitation to Iran and Syria. The Bush administration waited to embrace the idea until Iraq had made progress on a law governing national distribution of oil revenue. "We did work with them on the precise timing of the announcement," said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.
"Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia, even the U.S and Britain have informed us they will participate," he said, although Tehran has said publicly it has made no decision. Abawi also said China had agreed to attend. Abawi said the date would be set within two days. Iraqi state TV said the tentative date was March 10.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's adviser, Sami al-Askari, also said neighboring countries had agreed to come. Iran has publicly said it is studying the invitation. "The conference will be important. It will prove that Iraq is politically capable of holding such a conference. It will send a message to the world," Abawi said. Al-Askari said it would allow countries such as the U.S., Iran and Syria "to sit down together without paying a political price."
Washington's willingness to attend the conference marked a diplomatic turnabout after months of refusing dialogue with Tehran over calming the situation in Iraq. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Tuesday that the United States would join the meeting and that Washington supported the Iraqi government's invitation to Iran and Syria. The Bush administration waited to embrace the idea until Iraq had made progress on a law governing national distribution of oil revenue. "We did work with them on the precise timing of the announcement," said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.
The Iranian state IRNA news agency quoted Ahmadinejad as saying that "Americans should amend their policy" in Iraq because the current one is "wrong." A Tehran state radio commentary also said the U.S. should change its Iraq policy if Washington expects the conference to produce a "rational conclusion."
Labels: Baghdad security conference, draft oil law, Iran, Sami al-Aaskari
