Thursday, April 26, 2007
Maliki tells Satterfield to speak with Iran, Syria to prevent foreign fighters, weapons
Politics, Region
(RFE/RL) - During a meeting in Kuwait on April 24, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki told David Satterfield, a senior adviser to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Iraq, that the United States should start talking to Syria and Iran, international media reported. According to an al-Maliki aide, who spoke to AP on condition of anonymity, Satterfield asked the Iraqi leader what more could be done to prevent foreign fighters and illegal weapons from entering Iraq through Iran and Syria.
The aide quoted al-Maliki as telling Satterfield, "You should open a dialogue with Iran and Syria in the interests of Iraq's security." The Iraqi and U.S. governments have long accused Damascus of allowing foreign fighters to cross into Iraq from Syria to carry out attacks. In addition, U.S. officials have accused Tehran of funneling weapons into Iraq that have been used against U.S. military personnel. Both Iran and Syria have denied these accusations. One of the key recommendations in a report conducted by the U.S. bipartisan Iraq Study Group called for direct U.S. engagement with Iran and Syria in an effort to help stabilize Iraq.
Labels: David Satterfield, foreign fighters, Iran, Kuwait, Nouri Al-Maliki, Syria
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Maliki goes to Kuwait to discuss $15 bn debt
Kuwait
(Associated Press) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki met with top officials from Kuwait and the US yesterday to discuss the $15 billion (Dh55.05 billion) Baghdad owes Kuwait and ways to stop the infiltration of foreign fighters, officials said. Al Maliki, on his second visit to this country as prime minister, met with Emir Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah for about an hour and later held a separate meeting with David Satterfield, an adviser to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Iraq.
Satterfield, who was on a regional tour to encourage financial support for the Iraqi government, told Al Maliki that Saudi Arabia has agreed to write off most of the more than $15 billion Iraq owes the country, but Kuwait has not made a final decision, according to an aide to Al Maliki. During his visit, Al Maliki is expected to ask Kuwait to forgive the $15 billion that his country owes the nation dating back to Saddam Hussain's former regime.
The Kuwaiti government has pledged to forgive 80 per cent of the debt, but the decision is subject to parliamentary approval. Many lawmakers oppose the move, arguing that Iraq also is an oil-rich country and should pay back the money. Satterfield said on Monday that the American and the Iraqi governments are "working closely" with Gulf countries and other major creditors to write off Baghdad's debts.
The US official asked the prime minister on Tuesday about what should be done to stop the infiltration of foreign fighters and weapons into Iraq from neighbouring Iran and Syria, the aide to Al Maliki said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
Satterfield, who was on a regional tour to encourage financial support for the Iraqi government, told Al Maliki that Saudi Arabia has agreed to write off most of the more than $15 billion Iraq owes the country, but Kuwait has not made a final decision, according to an aide to Al Maliki. During his visit, Al Maliki is expected to ask Kuwait to forgive the $15 billion that his country owes the nation dating back to Saddam Hussain's former regime.
The Kuwaiti government has pledged to forgive 80 per cent of the debt, but the decision is subject to parliamentary approval. Many lawmakers oppose the move, arguing that Iraq also is an oil-rich country and should pay back the money. Satterfield said on Monday that the American and the Iraqi governments are "working closely" with Gulf countries and other major creditors to write off Baghdad's debts.
The US official asked the prime minister on Tuesday about what should be done to stop the infiltration of foreign fighters and weapons into Iraq from neighbouring Iran and Syria, the aide to Al Maliki said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
Labels: David Satterfield, debt, Kuwait, Nouri Al-Maliki
Saturday, April 21, 2007
U.S. coordinator for Iraq holds talks in Turkey
Turkey, Kurdistan, U.S.
(Turkish Daily News) - U.S. special coordinator for Iraq David Satterfield held talks on Friday with Turkish officials in Ankara, ahead of the key Iraq meeting in Sharm El Sheikh on May 3-4. During his one-day visit, Satterfield first paid a courtesy visit to Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ertuğrul Apakan and later met with Turkey's special envoy for Iraq, Oğuz Çelikkol.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry sources told the Turkish Daily News that a possible cross-border operation by the Turkish military to crack down on the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) bases in northern Iraq was not discussed during the meeting. The ministry sources underlined that Satterfield was Iraq coordinator, not an envoy to counter the PKK. They said Turkey and the United States exchanged views on peaceful solutions to the problems faced by Iraq on the basis of consensus.
Later in the day, Satterfield visited the office of the Chief of General Staff. Satterfield's visit comes one week after Chief of General Staff Gen. Yaşar Büyükanıt called for a military incursion into northern Iraq. Washington advises Turkey to avoid any unilateral action against Iraq.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry sources told the Turkish Daily News that a possible cross-border operation by the Turkish military to crack down on the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) bases in northern Iraq was not discussed during the meeting. The ministry sources underlined that Satterfield was Iraq coordinator, not an envoy to counter the PKK. They said Turkey and the United States exchanged views on peaceful solutions to the problems faced by Iraq on the basis of consensus.
Later in the day, Satterfield visited the office of the Chief of General Staff. Satterfield's visit comes one week after Chief of General Staff Gen. Yaşar Büyükanıt called for a military incursion into northern Iraq. Washington advises Turkey to avoid any unilateral action against Iraq.
Labels: David Satterfield, Ertuğrul Apakan, Oğuz Çelikkol, PKK, Sharm El Sheikh
