Friday, March 30, 2007
Arab summit rejects plans to divide Iraq
Region
(Voices of Iraq) - The Arab summit, which was held in the Saudi capital Riyadh, approved a draft resolution on developments in Iraq, which asserts Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, its Arab and Islamic identity and rejects any plans to divide it, well-informed sources in Riyadh said on Thursday.
“The resolution also underlines the importance of not interfering in Iraq’s internal affairs,” participating Arab diplomatic sources told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI). “Arab leaders and heads of delegations agreed on the resolution during the closed session late Wednesday,” they added.
The 19th Arab summit kicked off on Wednesday in Riyadh with the participation of all Arab countries except Libya.
“The resolution also underlines the importance of not interfering in Iraq’s internal affairs,” participating Arab diplomatic sources told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI). “Arab leaders and heads of delegations agreed on the resolution during the closed session late Wednesday,” they added.
The 19th Arab summit kicked off on Wednesday in Riyadh with the participation of all Arab countries except Libya.
Labels: 19th Arab Summit, Iraq, Riyadh
Saudi King Abdullah says U.S. in Iraq is "illegitimate foreign occupation”
Region, U.S.
(AP) -- King Abdullah's harsh - and unexpected - attack on the U.S. military presence in Iraq could be a Saudi attempt to signal to Washington its anger over the situation in Iraq and build credibility among fellow Arabs.
The White House, in a rare public retort Thursday, rejected the king's characterization of U.S. troops in Iraq as an "illegitimate foreign occupation," saying the United States was not in Iraq illegally.
"The United States and Saudi Arabia have a close and cooperative relationship on a wide range of issues," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said. "And when it comes to the coalition forces being in Iraq, we are there under the U.N. Security Council resolutions and at the invitation of the Iraqi people. We disagree with them," Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns told senators. "We were a little surprised to see those remarks."
The king made his remarks Wednesday at the opening session of the two-day Arab summit his country hosted in Riyadh. It was believed to be the first time the king publicly expressed that opinion. "In beloved Iraq, blood is flowing between brothers, in the shadow of an illegitimate foreign occupation, and abhorrent sectarianism threatens a civil war," said Abdullah, whose country is a U.S. ally that quietly aided the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
The next day, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani bristled at the comment in his speech to the summit, saying the term occupation has "negative implications" and is "in contradiction" to the vision of "Iraqi patriotic and national forces."
A Saudi official said the king was speaking as the president of the summit and his remarks reflected general frustration with the "patchwork" job the Americans were doing to end violence in Iraq. The king also wanted to send a message that Iraq is an issue that Arabs cannot turn their back on, the official said. He spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. It was not clear what kind of diplomatic fallout could result -- but the comments did nothing to help bring Arab nations closer to the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, a Shiite.
The White House, in a rare public retort Thursday, rejected the king's characterization of U.S. troops in Iraq as an "illegitimate foreign occupation," saying the United States was not in Iraq illegally.
"The United States and Saudi Arabia have a close and cooperative relationship on a wide range of issues," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said. "And when it comes to the coalition forces being in Iraq, we are there under the U.N. Security Council resolutions and at the invitation of the Iraqi people. We disagree with them," Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns told senators. "We were a little surprised to see those remarks."
The king made his remarks Wednesday at the opening session of the two-day Arab summit his country hosted in Riyadh. It was believed to be the first time the king publicly expressed that opinion. "In beloved Iraq, blood is flowing between brothers, in the shadow of an illegitimate foreign occupation, and abhorrent sectarianism threatens a civil war," said Abdullah, whose country is a U.S. ally that quietly aided the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
The next day, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani bristled at the comment in his speech to the summit, saying the term occupation has "negative implications" and is "in contradiction" to the vision of "Iraqi patriotic and national forces."
A Saudi official said the king was speaking as the president of the summit and his remarks reflected general frustration with the "patchwork" job the Americans were doing to end violence in Iraq. The king also wanted to send a message that Iraq is an issue that Arabs cannot turn their back on, the official said. He spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. It was not clear what kind of diplomatic fallout could result -- but the comments did nothing to help bring Arab nations closer to the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, a Shiite.
Labels: 19th Arab Summit, Iraq, King Abdullah, Saudi Arabia, U.S.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Talabani seeks regional support at summit in Riyadh
Region, Politics, Security
(AP) - Iraq's president tried to win Arab support Wednesday, promising Baghdad will give a greater political role to Sunni Muslims but calling on Arab countries to help stop terrorism in Iraq. A summit of Arab leaders in the Saudi capital Wednesday is taking a tough line on Iraq, demanding it change its constitution and military to include more Sunnis and end a program uprooting former members of Saddam Hussein's ruling Baath party.
The Sunni-led governments of the Arab world have long been suspicious of Iraq's new Shiite leadership, blaming it for fueling violence by discriminating against Sunni Arabs and accusing it of helping mainly Shiite Iran extend its influence in the Middle East. In a speech to the summit, Saudi King Abdullah denounced the U.S. military presence in Iraq as an "illegitimate foreign occupation" and warned that sectarian bloodshed was leading to civil war.
The head of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, warned that the Iraqi government's sectarian policies were threatening a wider conflict. "The clash between Sunnis and Shiites in Iraq and the policies that enflame and exploit it could light a horrific regional inferno that will leave no one victorious," he said.
Ahead of the summit, Iraq's Shiite prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, and President Jalal Talabani promised to introduce new legislation to let former members of Saddam's ruling Baath Party resume jobs in the government. The legislation, which has yet to be put to parliament, was seen as an attempt to avert criticism at the Arab summit. Al-Maliki is said to fear rising support among U.S.-allied Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan for an Iraqi national unity government led by former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, a favorite of Washington.
Talabani, a Kurd, called on Arab nations to back the Iraqi government by cancelling Iraqi debts and help stop militants from crossing into Iraq to join the insurgency. "Our utmost need will remain that we should act together to break the neck of terrorism," he said.
The Sunni-led governments of the Arab world have long been suspicious of Iraq's new Shiite leadership, blaming it for fueling violence by discriminating against Sunni Arabs and accusing it of helping mainly Shiite Iran extend its influence in the Middle East. In a speech to the summit, Saudi King Abdullah denounced the U.S. military presence in Iraq as an "illegitimate foreign occupation" and warned that sectarian bloodshed was leading to civil war.
The head of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, warned that the Iraqi government's sectarian policies were threatening a wider conflict. "The clash between Sunnis and Shiites in Iraq and the policies that enflame and exploit it could light a horrific regional inferno that will leave no one victorious," he said.
Ahead of the summit, Iraq's Shiite prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, and President Jalal Talabani promised to introduce new legislation to let former members of Saddam's ruling Baath Party resume jobs in the government. The legislation, which has yet to be put to parliament, was seen as an attempt to avert criticism at the Arab summit. Al-Maliki is said to fear rising support among U.S.-allied Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan for an Iraqi national unity government led by former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, a favorite of Washington.
Talabani, a Kurd, called on Arab nations to back the Iraqi government by cancelling Iraqi debts and help stop militants from crossing into Iraq to join the insurgency. "Our utmost need will remain that we should act together to break the neck of terrorism," he said.
Labels: 19th Arab Summit, Amr Mousa, constitution amendment, Iyad Allawi, Jalal Talabani
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Zebari tells Arab Summit not to interfere with Iraqi constitution
Politics, Region
(AFP) - Iraq’s government does not need an order from the Arab summit on how to amend its constitution and boost national reconciliation, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said yesterday. “Amendment of the constitution is an obligation written in the text of the constitution, and we are determined to do it without waiting to be told,” Zebari told AFP.
Arab foreign ministers meeting ahead of the summit here agreed Monday to call for an amendment of Iraq’s constitution to give Sunni Arabs a greater share of power in the war-ravaged country and prevent its breakup. The call came in a draft resolution to be submitted to Arab heads of state starting their annual summit today.
“We have obligations toward our people and we know them. We don’t need a diktat from Arab countries. We tell them (Arab states) that the idea of national reconciliation is ours, not yours,” Zebari said. The Iraqi government has initiated moves to review the de-Baathification law, he added. The Arab foreign ministers also called Monday for “reviewing the de-Baathification law in order to enhance the national reconciliation process in Iraq,” according to one minister.
What Iraq does need from fellow Arab states is their help in “fighting terrorism and controlling the borders to stop arms crossing” into the country, said Zebari. Iraq’s Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki and President Jalal Talabani sent to the Cabinet on Monday a new de-Baathification law aimed at promoting national reconciliation, the premier’s office said.
Arab foreign ministers meeting ahead of the summit here agreed Monday to call for an amendment of Iraq’s constitution to give Sunni Arabs a greater share of power in the war-ravaged country and prevent its breakup. The call came in a draft resolution to be submitted to Arab heads of state starting their annual summit today.
“We have obligations toward our people and we know them. We don’t need a diktat from Arab countries. We tell them (Arab states) that the idea of national reconciliation is ours, not yours,” Zebari said. The Iraqi government has initiated moves to review the de-Baathification law, he added. The Arab foreign ministers also called Monday for “reviewing the de-Baathification law in order to enhance the national reconciliation process in Iraq,” according to one minister.
What Iraq does need from fellow Arab states is their help in “fighting terrorism and controlling the borders to stop arms crossing” into the country, said Zebari. Iraq’s Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki and President Jalal Talabani sent to the Cabinet on Monday a new de-Baathification law aimed at promoting national reconciliation, the premier’s office said.
Labels: 19th Arab Summit, constitution, Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari
19th Arab Summit begins in Riyadh
Region, Security
(AP) - U.S. Arab allies at a summit Wednesday tried to rally other Arabs behind ways to win Israeli and Western support for an Arab land-for-peace offer, despite reluctance from Syria, hoping to build momentum for a breakthrough in the Mideast peace process. The peace initiative is the centerpiece of the two-day Arab summit, which convenes in the Saudi capital at a time when the United States has shown some progress in maneuvering all sides into place for a resumption in long-stalled negotiations.
The Riyadh summit comes amid a more assertive diplomatic role by Saudi Arabia in trying to resolve a string of crises in the Middle East, particularly the Lebanon crisis, the bloodshed in Iraq and Sunni Arab fears over the growing power of mainly Shiite Iran. On the Iraq issue, the summit is expected to push the Shiite Muslim-led Iraqi government to include more Sunni Arabs. The summit's final resolutions call for Baghdad to rewrite the constitution and rebuild the armed forces to accommodate more Sunnis.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari bristled at the resolutions, telling The Associated Press: "We do not need dictation from the Arab countries. Our national interest is our concern, not theirs. We want them to help fight terrorism and monitor (Iraq's) borders to prevent the influx of weapons," he said.
Iran's foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, is attending the summit as a guest. The Arab League is dominated by Sunni Muslim-led nations that are deeply suspicious of mainly Shiite Iran's influence in the region and see Iraq's Shiites as backing Iranian interests.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari bristled at the resolutions, telling The Associated Press: "We do not need dictation from the Arab countries. Our national interest is our concern, not theirs. We want them to help fight terrorism and monitor (Iraq's) borders to prevent the influx of weapons," he said.
Iran's foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, is attending the summit as a guest. The Arab League is dominated by Sunni Muslim-led nations that are deeply suspicious of mainly Shiite Iran's influence in the region and see Iraq's Shiites as backing Iranian interests.
Labels: 19th Arab Summit, Hoshyar Zibari
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Talabani heads to Riyadh for Wednesday's 19th Arab Summit
Region, Politics, Security
(VOI) - Iraq's President Jalal al-Talabani will leave Sulaimaniyah on Tuesday heading for the Saudi capital Riyadh to take part in the 19th Arab summit, that will kick off on Wednesday, a source in the media office of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) said on Monday.
A member from the political bureau of the PUK had said earlier this month the president would take part in the summit, noting that the Iraqi file and the Arab states' support to the ongoing political process in Iraq will top Talabani's talks in the summit.
Arab leaders from accros the Middle East will attend the 19th Arab Summit, starting Wednesday in Riyadh. Its focus will be on firming up Arab Solidarity and resolving jointly key issues and challenges facing the Arab world.
Labels: 19th Arab Summit, Riyadh, Talabani
