Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Egypt to call for cease-fire in Iraq at Sharm el-Sheikh conference
Region, Conference
(AP) - Egypt wants an international conference on Iraq this week to call for a three-month cease-fire between Iraqi forces and insurgents, according to a draft resolution. But Iraq strongly objected to the idea on Monday. The Egyptian proposal was the latest source of division between Iraq and its Arab neighbors. It implicitly treats the Shiite-led Iraqi government and the Sunni-led insurgency as equals, and an Iraqi diplomat said Monday that Baghdad rejected the idea.
Egypt is trying to include the cease-fire call in resolutions for a two-day conference starting Thursday, according to a copy of the draft resolutions obtained by The Associated Press. Egypt is hosting the meeting in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik with the aim of uniting countries behind a plan to stabilize Iraq. It is expected to bring together Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, officials from Iran, Russia, China, Europe and Arab nations.
Under the Egyptian proposal, the participants would "call on all parties to implement a cease-fire for an initial period of three months to allow for a conducive environment to help foster the political process and national accord," according to the draft resolutions. It did not elaborate on how insurgents could be brought on board for a cease-fire. An Iraqi official close to diplomatic discussions of the resolutions said the Egyptian proposal was a nonstarter. "This is not a good idea. How can we have a cease-fire with terrorists?" said the Iraqi diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the discussions.
Although the United States has been pushing al-Maliki to reach out for Sunni Arabs, it is highly unlikely to back a cease-fire with insurgents who are battling U.S. forces as well as Iraqi troops.
Egypt is trying to include the cease-fire call in resolutions for a two-day conference starting Thursday, according to a copy of the draft resolutions obtained by The Associated Press. Egypt is hosting the meeting in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik with the aim of uniting countries behind a plan to stabilize Iraq. It is expected to bring together Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, officials from Iran, Russia, China, Europe and Arab nations.
Under the Egyptian proposal, the participants would "call on all parties to implement a cease-fire for an initial period of three months to allow for a conducive environment to help foster the political process and national accord," according to the draft resolutions. It did not elaborate on how insurgents could be brought on board for a cease-fire. An Iraqi official close to diplomatic discussions of the resolutions said the Egyptian proposal was a nonstarter. "This is not a good idea. How can we have a cease-fire with terrorists?" said the Iraqi diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the discussions.
Although the United States has been pushing al-Maliki to reach out for Sunni Arabs, it is highly unlikely to back a cease-fire with insurgents who are battling U.S. forces as well as Iraqi troops.
Labels: cease-fire, Egypt, Iraq, Sharm al-Sheikh Conference
