Saturday, March 31, 2007
U.S. rules out deal with Iran to release British sailors
Iran, U.K., Security
(The Telegraph) - The United States has ruled out a deal to exchange the 15 British sailors and Royal Marines captured by Iran for five Iranians held by US forces. State department spokesman Sean McCormack crushed hopes that the hostages could be swapped as the crisis over the captured Royal Navy personnel entered its ninth day.
The US seized five suspected members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in the Iraqi city of Irbil in January, fuelling claims that Iran has been supplying Iraqi insurgents with weapons. Mr McCormack said: “The international community is not going to stand for the Iranian government trying to use this issue to distract the rest of the world from the situation in which Iran finds itself vis-a-vis its nuclear programme.”
Fears that British sailors would suffer a lengthy incarceration grew as Iranian officials repeated that they could face trial for violating international law. Speaking on Russian television Gholam-Reza Ansari, Iran’s ambassador to Russia, said that his country had launched a investigation into the sailors. He said: “It is possible that the British soldiers who entered into Iranian waters will go on trial for taking this illegal action. “The legal phase concerning these British soldiers has started and if charges against them are proven, they will be punished.”
A spokesman for the Foreign Office said despite the comments, the British position remains unchanged. He said: “It does not change our position. We made it clear that they were seized in Iraqi waters and we demand their release immediately, as well as consular access.” A third letter, purportedly written by Ldg Seaman Turney, the mother of a young daughter, was also published. It said she was being held because of “oppressive” British and US behaviour in Iraq. The letter, in poor English, called for Britain to withdraw from Iraq.
The US seized five suspected members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in the Iraqi city of Irbil in January, fuelling claims that Iran has been supplying Iraqi insurgents with weapons. Mr McCormack said: “The international community is not going to stand for the Iranian government trying to use this issue to distract the rest of the world from the situation in which Iran finds itself vis-a-vis its nuclear programme.”
Fears that British sailors would suffer a lengthy incarceration grew as Iranian officials repeated that they could face trial for violating international law. Speaking on Russian television Gholam-Reza Ansari, Iran’s ambassador to Russia, said that his country had launched a investigation into the sailors. He said: “It is possible that the British soldiers who entered into Iranian waters will go on trial for taking this illegal action. “The legal phase concerning these British soldiers has started and if charges against them are proven, they will be punished.”
A spokesman for the Foreign Office said despite the comments, the British position remains unchanged. He said: “It does not change our position. We made it clear that they were seized in Iraqi waters and we demand their release immediately, as well as consular access.” A third letter, purportedly written by Ldg Seaman Turney, the mother of a young daughter, was also published. It said she was being held because of “oppressive” British and US behaviour in Iraq. The letter, in poor English, called for Britain to withdraw from Iraq.
Britain gained its first significant international backing over the crisis last night when the European Union called for the "immediate and unconditional" release of the 15 Royal Navy personnel. The "message of solidarity" from 26 other European foreign ministers warned Iran that unless the sailors and marines were released, the EU would take further action, including possible suspension of business ties with Teheran and trade sanctions.
The strongly-worded EU response came 24 hours after the United Nations Security Council in New York approved a watered-down statement expressing "grave concern" about the situation. The EU statement pointedly used the word the UN baulked at endorsing by saying the it "deplores" the Britons' continued detention. It backed Britain's insistence that the Royal Navy boarding party had not crossed into Iranian territorial waters and threatened "further measures" if they were not released.
The strongly-worded EU response came 24 hours after the United Nations Security Council in New York approved a watered-down statement expressing "grave concern" about the situation. The EU statement pointedly used the word the UN baulked at endorsing by saying the it "deplores" the Britons' continued detention. It backed Britain's insistence that the Royal Navy boarding party had not crossed into Iranian territorial waters and threatened "further measures" if they were not released.
The Gulf Cooperation Council, a loose political and economic alliance of Iran's U.S.-allied Gulf Arab neighbors - Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates, also urged an end to the confrontation. The crisis, at a time of heightened Middle East tensions over Iran's nuclear ambitions, has helped push oil prices to six-month highs over concerns an escalation might curb crucial oil exports from the region.
Labels: Baghdad security conference, British navy, E.U., Gholam-Reza Ansari, Gulf Cooperation Council, Iran, oil prices, Sean McCormack, trial, U.K., U.N. Security Council, U.S.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Turkey offers to host follow-up Iraq security meeting
Politics, Security, International
(Al Jazeera) Iraq's prime minister has urged regional powers, including Iran and Syria, not to use the country as a proxy battleground. Nuri al-Maliki made the plea in the opening speech of a conference in Baghdad aimed at ending sectarian violence in Iraq and stopping it from spreading in the region. Al-Maliki also urged other countries in the oil-rich region to stop supporting sectarian violence and do all they could to help Baghdad, saying it was in everyone's interest to stop sectarian blood from spilling over Iraq's borders.
The conference has been deemed by Iraq as a success. "The meeting was constructive and positive in fact in its atmosphere and the composition," Hoshiyar Zebari, the Iraqi foreign minister, said adding that committees had been set up for security, refugees, fuel and power.
After talks between senior officials at the Baghdad conference, the United States said Turkey had offered to host a planned follow-up ministerial-level conference in April and that Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, would attend the meeting. The 16 nations at the long-awaited conference agreed to establish a committee to look at security co-operation, as well as two others focusing on Iraqi refugees and energy issues. Zebari described the meeting "constructive and positive" and said Iraq and its neighbours had decided to hold another mid-level in Turkey next month.
The delegates, however, failed to agree on a date and venue for a follow-up conference at a higher, ministerial level. "What the conference achieved was exploration and preparation, explorations of the different positions of people attending this conference and preparation for the upcoming conference in Istanbul," Jasim Azawi, the presenter of Al Jazeera's Inside Iraq programme, said.
After talks between senior officials at the Baghdad conference, the United States said Turkey had offered to host a planned follow-up ministerial-level conference in April and that Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, would attend the meeting. The 16 nations at the long-awaited conference agreed to establish a committee to look at security co-operation, as well as two others focusing on Iraqi refugees and energy issues. Zebari described the meeting "constructive and positive" and said Iraq and its neighbours had decided to hold another mid-level in Turkey next month.
The delegates, however, failed to agree on a date and venue for a follow-up conference at a higher, ministerial level. "What the conference achieved was exploration and preparation, explorations of the different positions of people attending this conference and preparation for the upcoming conference in Istanbul," Jasim Azawi, the presenter of Al Jazeera's Inside Iraq programme, said.
Iran's envoy to to the talks rejected allegations that his country was fomenting violence in Iraq and blamed the fighting on the presence of US forces. "It will help resolve the problem of violence if they set a timetable for withdrawal of their troops from Iraq," Abbas Araghchi, Iran's deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, said.
Labels: Baghdad security conference, Iran, Turkey, U.S.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Explosions near Baghdad security conference
Security
(Reuters) Two blasts that sounded like mortars rocked the building where delegates from regional and world powers were meeting in Baghdad to discuss stabilising Iraq, Reuters witnesses said. The blasts appeared to be mortars which landed in an area between the Rasheed Hotel, inside the Green Zone, and the Foreign Ministry, where the conference is being held, one of the witnesses said. There was no immediate word on casualties. Mortars frequently land in the Green Zone, usually without causing casualties.
Labels: Baghdad security conference, explosions, Foreign Ministry
Al-Maliki urges security conference delegates not to pursue differences
Politics, Security, International
(Reuters) Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki told a regional conference in Baghdad on Saturday that national reconciliation was crucial to saving his country and urged key players not to use Iraq to play out their differences. "The reconciliation initiative is the ship that will save us," Maliki said in his opening speech to delegates to the regional conference, attended by deputy foreign ministers and other such officials from Iran, Syria and the United States.
"Iraq with its strategic location, must be seen as a key factor and an important player in the regional and international field," Maliki said. "We ... demand that regional or international states refrain from interfering or influencing the Iraqi state of affairs through supporting a certain sect, ethnicity or party," Maliki said in the written copy of a speech to delegates.
Maliki also called on officials from regional and world powers to pursue dialogue to settle disputes over Iraq.
"We call for peaceful dialogue to settle disputes, including the international, regional, inter-regional issues," Maliki told delegates to a regional conference in Baghdad, including deputy foreign ministers and other officials from Iran, Syria and the United States. In his speech, Maliki also demanded to see a "unified regional and international stand in support of the Iraqi people ... with no distinction along sectarian lines.
The one-day conference brings together mid-level officials from Iraq's neighbors, the permanent U.N. Security Council members -- the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France -- and Arab countries. There will be 16 delegations in all. But attention is likely to be focused on the United States sitting down with Syria and Iran, both accused by Washington of fuelling the Iraq war by supporting either Sunni insurgents or Shi'ite militias. Iran and Syria deny the charges.
Zebari said Iraq could also help bring foes together. "Despite Iraq's current difficulties, it is capable of helping its neighbors by providing this forum," he said. "It would have been extremely difficult to get this number of people in one room to sit together."
"Iraq with its strategic location, must be seen as a key factor and an important player in the regional and international field," Maliki said. "We ... demand that regional or international states refrain from interfering or influencing the Iraqi state of affairs through supporting a certain sect, ethnicity or party," Maliki said in the written copy of a speech to delegates.
Maliki also called on officials from regional and world powers to pursue dialogue to settle disputes over Iraq.
"We call for peaceful dialogue to settle disputes, including the international, regional, inter-regional issues," Maliki told delegates to a regional conference in Baghdad, including deputy foreign ministers and other officials from Iran, Syria and the United States. In his speech, Maliki also demanded to see a "unified regional and international stand in support of the Iraqi people ... with no distinction along sectarian lines.
The one-day conference brings together mid-level officials from Iraq's neighbors, the permanent U.N. Security Council members -- the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France -- and Arab countries. There will be 16 delegations in all. But attention is likely to be focused on the United States sitting down with Syria and Iran, both accused by Washington of fuelling the Iraq war by supporting either Sunni insurgents or Shi'ite militias. Iran and Syria deny the charges.
Zebari said Iraq could also help bring foes together. "Despite Iraq's current difficulties, it is capable of helping its neighbors by providing this forum," he said. "It would have been extremely difficult to get this number of people in one room to sit together."
Labels: Baghdad security conference
Friday, March 09, 2007
U.S. to confront Syria, Iran on fuelling Iraq's instability
Security, Politics, International
(Middle East Online) The United States will confront Syria and Iran directly at a regional meeting on Iraq this weekend with charges they are actively fomenting the violence tearing their neighbor apart, a senior US official said Thursday. David Satterfield, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's top adviser on Iraq, said the US delegation would press Damascus and Tehran to respond publicly to the accusations at the conference grouping Iraq, its neighbors and the main United Nations powers.
Satterfield also gave the clearest indication yet that US officials were ready to hold direct bilateral talks with the Iranians and Syrians -- long a diplomatic taboo under President George W. Bush. Washington hopes to use Saturday's conference to bring multi-pronged pressure on Iran and Syria to stop fueling the violence in Iraq.
Satterfield also gave the clearest indication yet that US officials were ready to hold direct bilateral talks with the Iranians and Syrians -- long a diplomatic taboo under President George W. Bush. Washington hopes to use Saturday's conference to bring multi-pronged pressure on Iran and Syria to stop fueling the violence in Iraq.
Satterfield said the US presentation to the meeting would hold Syria partially responsible for the worst acts of violence in recent weeks for allowing "jihadist elements" like Al-Qaeda to cross its border into Iraq. The Iranians will meanwhile hear a reiteration of oft-aired US allegations that they are providing materiel and training to Shiite militia engaged in attacks on US forces, notably using high-tech armor-piercing bombs which Washington says were designed by the Iranians, he said.
Labels: Baghdad security conference, Iran, Syria, U.S.A
Al-Maliki tours Baghdad neighbourhood ahead of security conference
Security, International, Politics
(AP) Iraq's prime minister strolled Baghdad's streets and visited police checkpoints Friday to showcase security ahead of an international conference aimed at stabilizing the war-torn country with help from its neighbors. Security was heightened across Baghdad as international envoys prepared to arrive for Saturday's conference, which would be held at Iraq's Foreign Ministry just outside the heavily fortified Green Zone.
In Cairo, Egypt's Foreign Ministry said the foreign minister for Arab affairs, Hani Khalaf, would lead his country's delegation to Baghdad on Saturday. "Egypt will provide all possible aid to help the Iraqi people build its national institutions and rebuild the country," a Foreign Ministry statement said.
But bitter squabbles have broken out between Arab countries and Iraq's government ahead of the conference that the U.S. had hoped would unite them. Sunni-led Arab governments will likely use the conference to press for a greater Sunni role in Iraq. That has rankled Iraq's Shiite leaders, who believe the Arabs are trying to reverse their newfound power after decades of being marginalized under Sunni minority rule. The dispute reflects the complicated tensions that are likely to surface at the meeting, which gathers diplomats from Iraq's Arab neighbors, Iran, the United States, Turkey and the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council.
Arab states are likely to try to win U.S. support for their demands, increasing the pressure on Baghdad. Iran has vowed to support its Shiite allies in the Iraqi government, but is also concerned the U.S. will press it on accusations that Tehran is supporting Shiite militants fueling Iraq's bloodshed. It was unclear whether the U.S. and Iran would hold direct meetings on the sidelines of the multilateral conference.
But bitter squabbles have broken out between Arab countries and Iraq's government ahead of the conference that the U.S. had hoped would unite them. Sunni-led Arab governments will likely use the conference to press for a greater Sunni role in Iraq. That has rankled Iraq's Shiite leaders, who believe the Arabs are trying to reverse their newfound power after decades of being marginalized under Sunni minority rule. The dispute reflects the complicated tensions that are likely to surface at the meeting, which gathers diplomats from Iraq's Arab neighbors, Iran, the United States, Turkey and the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council.
Arab states are likely to try to win U.S. support for their demands, increasing the pressure on Baghdad. Iran has vowed to support its Shiite allies in the Iraqi government, but is also concerned the U.S. will press it on accusations that Tehran is supporting Shiite militants fueling Iraq's bloodshed. It was unclear whether the U.S. and Iran would hold direct meetings on the sidelines of the multilateral conference.
Labels: Baghdad security conference
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Iran to attend Baghdad security conference
Politics, Security, Region
(ISNA) Iran's foreign minister informed that an Iranian delegation led by the deputy of legal and international affairs in Iran's foreign ministry would take part in the upcoming conference in Iraq. Speaking at a press conference, Manouchehr Mottaki announced that Abbas Araghchi would lead the Iranian delegation in Iraq's neighboring countries conference. Iran is to participate in the event this Saturday, in order to offer help to the Iraqi nation and government.
Labels: Abbas Araghchi, Baghdad security conference, Iran
Insurgent group weighs up supporting security conference
Insurgency, Politics
COMMENT: Al-Zawra reported that the Iraqi Resistance Islamic Front (JAMI) first announced its existence on May 30, 2004. JAMI is believed to have been formed by a number of smaller Sunni resistance groups brought together by common political goals. The groups activities and attacks on coalition forces are primarily centered in the Ninawa and Diyala governorates. The group affirmed several times that it only focuses on fighting the American forces and those who directly collaborate with it; they don't target the Iraqi Police or any other Iraqis in general.The group has also renounced beheadings, saying that they distort the image of the resistance.Most importantly, the group vowed not to cooperate with any other insurgent group which targets Iraqis. COMMENT ENDS.
(SITE) The Islamic Iraqi Resistance Front, JAMI, an insurgency group in Iraq, issued through its “Political Bureau” on Monday, March 5, 2007, a statement regarding the international conference to be held in Baghdad this coming Saturday, March 10. JAMI observes sinister intent in the Iraqi government convening the talks, claiming that it seeks to launch a “diplomatic attack” in defense of its standing, overlook human rights issues, and deny the resistance. The quick response of the United States and Iran to the conference allegedly indicates their respective involvement in the Iraqi arena: the U.S. mired in a swamp and Iran wishing to appear innocent of the killing and destruction caused by its militias.
However, if the international conference is in support of the Iraqi people, to restore their independence and honor, and additionally recognize the Mujahideen and negotiate with the jihadi brigades, then JAMI will support the conference. Here they also address the “occupiers” to their position: “If you want to benefit from your mistakes - and we think you are not - you don’t have to rely on this sectarian government nor its agent parties who came onboard your tanks. The only way to get out of this awkward position is to find a solution with the leaders of jihad and resistance, and not with the agents and mercenaries.”
However, if the international conference is in support of the Iraqi people, to restore their independence and honor, and additionally recognize the Mujahideen and negotiate with the jihadi brigades, then JAMI will support the conference. Here they also address the “occupiers” to their position: “If you want to benefit from your mistakes - and we think you are not - you don’t have to rely on this sectarian government nor its agent parties who came onboard your tanks. The only way to get out of this awkward position is to find a solution with the leaders of jihad and resistance, and not with the agents and mercenaries.”
COMMENT: Al-Zawra reported that the Iraqi Resistance Islamic Front (JAMI) first announced its existence on May 30, 2004. JAMI is believed to have been formed by a number of smaller Sunni resistance groups brought together by common political goals. The groups activities and attacks on coalition forces are primarily centered in the Ninawa and Diyala governorates. The group affirmed several times that it only focuses on fighting the American forces and those who directly collaborate with it; they don't target the Iraqi Police or any other Iraqis in general.The group has also renounced beheadings, saying that they distort the image of the resistance.Most importantly, the group vowed not to cooperate with any other insurgent group which targets Iraqis. COMMENT ENDS.
Labels: Baghdad security conference, Islamic Iraqi Resistance Front, JAMI
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
