Thursday, July 19, 2007
Jordan to host conference on Iraqi refugees
Humanitarian
(AFP) - Jordan has invited officials from Iraq, Syria, and Egypt to a conference next week on ways to help these states cope with hundreds of thousands of Iraqi refugees, the foreign ministry said Thursday. United Nations officials will attend, with Turkey, Iran, Russia and Japan also taking part in the July 26 meeting as "observers," the ministry said in a statement carried by state-run Petra news agency.
"The conference will discuss ways of helping these states cope with burdens caused by Iraqi refugees," it said.On July 12 the UN refugee agency UNHCR said it had more than doubled its annual appeal for funding to help millions of uprooted Iraqis to 123 million dollars, to boost medical care, shelter and other support.
It urged the international community to "put its money where its mouth is" after Syria and Jordan were left with little in the way of direct bilateral aid to cope with some two million Iraqi refugees fleeing widespread violence. The UNHCR has warned that Syria and Jordan's healthcare, education systems and housing are under severe strain due to the continued influx of Iraqis.
Jordan said in May that hosting Iraqi refugees is costing the desert kingdom around one billion dollars a year, and it has commissioned a survey to determine the exact number of Iraqis on its territory. Syria hosts some 1.4 million Iraqis and Jordan about 750,000, including people who had fled before the 2003 US-led invasion, according to the UNHCR.
UNHCR Deputy High Commissioner L. Craig Johnstone commended both Jordan and Syria for taking in so many refugees, during a visit to both countries to meet officials and check on humanitarian services provided to Iraqis, the UN agency said in a statement.
"Registration is the only way that we can effectively identify those refugees that need our help," Johnstone said, adding that the UNHCR has already registered more than 150,000 Iraqis in the region. Johnstone said Jordan and Syria are "both to be commended for their extraordinary generosity toward those fleeing Iraq" and stressed that "the needs are enormous and these governments should not have to cope alone."
"The conference will discuss ways of helping these states cope with burdens caused by Iraqi refugees," it said.On July 12 the UN refugee agency UNHCR said it had more than doubled its annual appeal for funding to help millions of uprooted Iraqis to 123 million dollars, to boost medical care, shelter and other support.
It urged the international community to "put its money where its mouth is" after Syria and Jordan were left with little in the way of direct bilateral aid to cope with some two million Iraqi refugees fleeing widespread violence. The UNHCR has warned that Syria and Jordan's healthcare, education systems and housing are under severe strain due to the continued influx of Iraqis.
Jordan said in May that hosting Iraqi refugees is costing the desert kingdom around one billion dollars a year, and it has commissioned a survey to determine the exact number of Iraqis on its territory. Syria hosts some 1.4 million Iraqis and Jordan about 750,000, including people who had fled before the 2003 US-led invasion, according to the UNHCR.
UNHCR Deputy High Commissioner L. Craig Johnstone commended both Jordan and Syria for taking in so many refugees, during a visit to both countries to meet officials and check on humanitarian services provided to Iraqis, the UN agency said in a statement.
"Registration is the only way that we can effectively identify those refugees that need our help," Johnstone said, adding that the UNHCR has already registered more than 150,000 Iraqis in the region. Johnstone said Jordan and Syria are "both to be commended for their extraordinary generosity toward those fleeing Iraq" and stressed that "the needs are enormous and these governments should not have to cope alone."
Labels: Craig Johnstone, Egypt, Iraqi refugees, Jordan, Syria, UNHCR
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Iraq wins some debt relief at Sharm el-Sheikh
Conference
(Reuters) - Iraq won a trickle of debt relief pledges at a big international conference in Egypt on Thursday and the United States prepared for the highest-level contact with Syria in more than two years. Egypt and three East European countries agreed to waive debts owed by Iraq as part of an International Compact to support Iraqi institutions in exchange for political and economic reforms by the Baghdad government.
The first day of the two-day conference in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh is dedicated to the International Compact, a five-year plan to restore stability and economic prosperity through national reconciliation. But much of the attention is on whether the United States will abandon its longstanding reluctance to hold high-level talks with the Iranian and Syrian governments, as recommended by the Baker-Hamilton commission on Iraq last year.
In his opening speech to the two days of meetings in Egypt, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki appealed for debt relief. "We call on everybody participating in this conference to write off the accumulated debts of Iraq," he said. Iraq sits on the world's third-largest proven crude oil reserves but is struggling to rebuild after four years of war.
Iraqi Finance Minister Bayan Jabor said the three Eastern European countries -- Slovenia, Bulgaria and Poland -- would agree to forgive 80 percent of Iraqi debt but did not say how much that would be. He said the European Union would grant Iraq $200 million, and he expected grants from some Asian countries as well. But James Dobbins, an analysts at the RAND Corporation, said debt relief was of secondary importance because the Iraqis are not paying off the money they owed anyway.
"It is a purely paper transaction. It's symbolic but it doesn't have any immediate effect," he said. Jabor said that Iraq had rejected as unacceptable an offer from Russia to forgive the debt it is owed by Baghdad in return for access to a major Iraqi oilfield. "The Russians are hesitant. They want investment in the Rumaila oilfield in return for eliminating the debt," he said. When Saudi Arabia announced last month that it was writing off 80 percent of the more than $15 billion it was owed by Iraq, Jabor estimated his country's debt at $140 billion.
The first day of the two-day conference in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh is dedicated to the International Compact, a five-year plan to restore stability and economic prosperity through national reconciliation. But much of the attention is on whether the United States will abandon its longstanding reluctance to hold high-level talks with the Iranian and Syrian governments, as recommended by the Baker-Hamilton commission on Iraq last year.
In his opening speech to the two days of meetings in Egypt, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki appealed for debt relief. "We call on everybody participating in this conference to write off the accumulated debts of Iraq," he said. Iraq sits on the world's third-largest proven crude oil reserves but is struggling to rebuild after four years of war.
Iraqi Finance Minister Bayan Jabor said the three Eastern European countries -- Slovenia, Bulgaria and Poland -- would agree to forgive 80 percent of Iraqi debt but did not say how much that would be. He said the European Union would grant Iraq $200 million, and he expected grants from some Asian countries as well. But James Dobbins, an analysts at the RAND Corporation, said debt relief was of secondary importance because the Iraqis are not paying off the money they owed anyway.
"It is a purely paper transaction. It's symbolic but it doesn't have any immediate effect," he said. Jabor said that Iraq had rejected as unacceptable an offer from Russia to forgive the debt it is owed by Baghdad in return for access to a major Iraqi oilfield. "The Russians are hesitant. They want investment in the Rumaila oilfield in return for eliminating the debt," he said. When Saudi Arabia announced last month that it was writing off 80 percent of the more than $15 billion it was owed by Iraq, Jabor estimated his country's debt at $140 billion.
Labels: Bayan Jabor, Bulgaria, debt relief, Egypt, International Compact with Iraq, Poland, Rumaila field, Russia, Sharm al-Sheikh Conference, Slovenia
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
Monday, April 30, 2007
Allawi to attend Sharm el-Sheikh conference
Politics
(AP) - Former Iraqi prime minister Ayad Allawi, a sharp critic of the Shiite-led Iraqi government, will participate in an international conference on the country next week, an Egyptian news agency reported Saturday. The move could spark conflict with Baghdad since Allawi is believed to be garnering support to replace Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government, which he has accused of being sectarian.
Allawi arrived in Cairo on Saturday to discuss Iraqi affairs with Egyptian officials, just as the Middle East News Agency reported that he planned to attend the May 3-4 conference. Allawi is believed to have Cairo's support, but it is unclear if the Egyptian government invited him to the conference. MENA also reported that al-Maliki will head the Iraqi delegation to the upcoming meeting, citing Saad Mohammed Ridha, the head of Iraq's diplomatic mission in Cairo.
Allawi, while Shiite through family history, rejects mixing religion and government and says Iraq can only survive through reconciliation with Sunni Muslims. He was installed as Iraq's first post-Saddam prime minister and ran the country from June 2004 until his party was routed by religious Shiite parties in the January 2005 election. 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 Allawi, a favorite of Washington.
At next week's conference, Arab countries will demand that al-Maliki's government do more to reach out to disgruntled Sunni Arabs before they pledge substantial aid to the country, according to a document obtained several days ago by The Associated Press.
On the first day of the conference, officials will unveil the International Compact with Iraq, a five-year plan aimed at strengthening the role of international organizations to stabilize the country's politics and economy.
The second day's meetings will be attended by Iraq's neighbors and the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council - the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain.
Allawi arrived in Cairo on Saturday to discuss Iraqi affairs with Egyptian officials, just as the Middle East News Agency reported that he planned to attend the May 3-4 conference. Allawi is believed to have Cairo's support, but it is unclear if the Egyptian government invited him to the conference. MENA also reported that al-Maliki will head the Iraqi delegation to the upcoming meeting, citing Saad Mohammed Ridha, the head of Iraq's diplomatic mission in Cairo.
Allawi, while Shiite through family history, rejects mixing religion and government and says Iraq can only survive through reconciliation with Sunni Muslims. He was installed as Iraq's first post-Saddam prime minister and ran the country from June 2004 until his party was routed by religious Shiite parties in the January 2005 election. 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 Allawi, a favorite of Washington.
At next week's conference, Arab countries will demand that al-Maliki's government do more to reach out to disgruntled Sunni Arabs before they pledge substantial aid to the country, according to a document obtained several days ago by The Associated Press.
On the first day of the conference, officials will unveil the International Compact with Iraq, a five-year plan aimed at strengthening the role of international organizations to stabilize the country's politics and economy.
The second day's meetings will be attended by Iraq's neighbors and the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council - the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain.
Labels: Egypt, International Compact with Iraq, Iyad Allawi, Nouri Al-Maliki, Saad Mohammed Ridha, Sharm al-Sheikh Conference
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Al-Maliki in Oman, rebuffed by Saudi king
Politics, Region
(RFE/RL) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki held talks with Omani leader Sultan Qabus in Muscat on April 26, international media reported the same day. Iraqi government spokesman al-Dabbagh told reporters that the two discussed "the political and security situation in Iraq, as well as national-reconciliation" efforts. Oman was the final leg of al-Maliki's regional Arab tour in preparation for an international conference on Iraq to be held at the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on May 3-4.
On April 22, al-Maliki held talks with the Egyptian leadership in Cairo "Al-Zaman" reported on April 26 that Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki was told repeatedly by Saudi authorities that he could not meet with Saudi King Abdallah Abd al-Aziz during his regional Arab tour because the monarch's schedule is too full. An unidentified Saudi diplomat told dpa that the real reason why al-Maliki was not able to meet the Saudi monarch is because of "his negative position toward some groups [in Iraq], his bias toward other groups, and his actions in allowing Iran to have a greater role in Iraq."
When asked about the incident, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih tersely answered that the situation may have been due to a logistical problem, state-run Al-Iraqiyah television reported on April 26. "Maybe some technical or logistic requirements did not allow the prime minister to pay a visit [to Saudi Arabia] during his Arab tour. However, there is nothing other than what I said," Salih said.
Labels: Abdallah Abd al-Aziz, Egypt, Nuri al-Maliki, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sultan Qabus
Monday, April 23, 2007
Al-Maliki drums up support from region's Sunni-led governments
Security, Region
(AP) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki got a strong endorsement from the Egyptian leadership as he began a tour to drum up support from fellow Arab nations for his government and its efforts to reduce widespread sectarian violence. Al-Maliki, making his first visit as prime minister to Egypt, the Arab world's most populous nation, met with President Hosni Mubarak for about 45 minutes Sunday and later held talks with his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Nazif.
Al-Maliki's visit came 10 days before two conferences on Iraq will be held in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik. They will be attended by Iraq's neighbors as well as Bahrain and Egypt, and the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council - the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain - and other members of the Group of Eight industrialized nations.
Al-Maliki won't attend those meetings but is lobbying for more help from the mostly Sunni-led governments of the Arab world in stopping violence in Iraq. Nazif said they discussed the situation in Iraq and international efforts to help the embattled Arab nation. "Egypt stands by Iraq and we affirm our support to the Iraqi government's efforts for reconciliation between all parts of the Iraqi society and we condemn terrorism that does not differentiate between anyone," Nazif added.
Al-Maliki planned to travel next to Kuwait and aides said the United Arab Emirates and Oman might be added to his agenda. The Iraqi leader also said "there are efforts to release" five Iranians who were captured by U.S. forces on Jan. 11 in the northern city of Irbil in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq, 220 miles north of Baghdad. U.S. authorities said the five detained Iranians included the operations chief and other members of Iran's elite Quds Force, which is accused of arming and training Iraqi militants.
On Tuesday, he said his Iraqi government is holding talks with some insurgent groups, including members of Saddam Hussein's former regime, as part of a reconciliation plan aimed at reducing fighting and terrorist attacks that have left thousands of people dead in Iraq in the past few years . Al-Maliki did not identify the groups his government is in contact with, but said that when the Sharm el-Sheik conference takes place on May 3-4, "we will have good chances for reconciliation."
In June, al-Maliki announced a 24-point national reconciliation program that offers amnesty to members of the Sunni-led insurgency who were not involved in "terrorist activities," and amends a law that had removed senior members of Saddam's Baath Party from their jobs. Earlier this month, the prime minister visited Japan and South Korea, members of the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq.
Al-Maliki's visit came 10 days before two conferences on Iraq will be held in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik. They will be attended by Iraq's neighbors as well as Bahrain and Egypt, and the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council - the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain - and other members of the Group of Eight industrialized nations.
Al-Maliki won't attend those meetings but is lobbying for more help from the mostly Sunni-led governments of the Arab world in stopping violence in Iraq. Nazif said they discussed the situation in Iraq and international efforts to help the embattled Arab nation. "Egypt stands by Iraq and we affirm our support to the Iraqi government's efforts for reconciliation between all parts of the Iraqi society and we condemn terrorism that does not differentiate between anyone," Nazif added.
Al-Maliki planned to travel next to Kuwait and aides said the United Arab Emirates and Oman might be added to his agenda. The Iraqi leader also said "there are efforts to release" five Iranians who were captured by U.S. forces on Jan. 11 in the northern city of Irbil in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq, 220 miles north of Baghdad. U.S. authorities said the five detained Iranians included the operations chief and other members of Iran's elite Quds Force, which is accused of arming and training Iraqi militants.
On Tuesday, he said his Iraqi government is holding talks with some insurgent groups, including members of Saddam Hussein's former regime, as part of a reconciliation plan aimed at reducing fighting and terrorist attacks that have left thousands of people dead in Iraq in the past few years . Al-Maliki did not identify the groups his government is in contact with, but said that when the Sharm el-Sheik conference takes place on May 3-4, "we will have good chances for reconciliation."
In June, al-Maliki announced a 24-point national reconciliation program that offers amnesty to members of the Sunni-led insurgency who were not involved in "terrorist activities," and amends a law that had removed senior members of Saddam's Baath Party from their jobs. Earlier this month, the prime minister visited Japan and South Korea, members of the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq.
Labels: Ahmed Nazif, Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, insurgent groups, Kuwait, Nouri Al-Maliki, Oman, Sharm el-Sheikh, UAE
Friday, April 20, 2007
Iraq appeals to Egypt to wipe out Iraqi debts owed
Finance, International
(VOI) – Iraqi Finance Minister Baqer Jabur Solagh urged his Egyptian counterpart Boutros Ghali to wipe out the huge debts owed by the Iraqi government, as Egypt is the host country for the international conference on Iraq this May."The Egyptian minister presented the idea to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and vowed to forgive Iraq's debts by 100% as a sign of Egypt's support of the Iraqi government," the Iraqi Finance Ministry said in a statement received by the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
"There are (also) good signs from Saudi Arabia on forgiving Iraq's debts. Iraqis are looking for such a step, especially from Arab neighboring countries," the statement added. "There are also contacts and talks with Kuwait and Turkey for the same purpose," it noted. "The Iraqi minister also met with his Slovenian counterpart to urge him to wipe out Iraq's debts, highlighting the importance of Slovenian participation in Iraq's conference," the statement said. The conference will be held at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh from 3-4 May, 2007.
Labels: Baqer Jabur Solagh, Boutros Ghali, debt, Egypt, Iraqi government, Kuwait, Turkey
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Al-Maliki to visit Egypt
Region, Politics
(VOI) – Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki will visit Cairo on April 20 to have talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, a well-informed source said on Monday. “The Iraqi premier will visit Cairo on April 20 in response to an official invitation from the Egyptian government and to meet President Mubarak and a number of Egyptian officials,” the source told the independent news agency voices of Iraq (VOI).
Labels: Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, Nouri Al-Maliki
Saturday, April 07, 2007
International Iraq security conference to take place in Egypt on May 3 - 4
Politics, International, Security
(DPA) - An international conference on Iraq originally planned for April will take place in Egypt on May 3 - 4, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari reported Saturday at a press conference in Baghdad. Participating in the foreign minister conference in addition to Iraq's neighbours will be the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, the members of the G8 as well as Egypt, Bahrain and representatives of international organizations.
The conference will for the first time in years also bring together at the same table the foreign ministers of the United States and Iran. A preparatory meeting at the official level took place March 10 in Baghdad. The May meeting is to sound out possibilities of stabilizing the situation in violence-stricken Iraq as well as easing tensions in the region, Zebari said.
A US State Department official on Thursday said direct talks between US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki would not be ruled out.
(DPA) - An international conference on Iraq originally planned for April will take place in Egypt on May 3 - 4, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari reported Saturday at a press conference in Baghdad. Participating in the foreign minister conference in addition to Iraq's neighbours will be the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, the members of the G8 as well as Egypt, Bahrain and representatives of international organizations.
The conference will for the first time in years also bring together at the same table the foreign ministers of the United States and Iran. A preparatory meeting at the official level took place March 10 in Baghdad. The May meeting is to sound out possibilities of stabilizing the situation in violence-stricken Iraq as well as easing tensions in the region, Zebari said.
A US State Department official on Thursday said direct talks between US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki would not be ruled out.
Labels: Condoleezza Rice, Egypt, G8, Iraq security conference, Manouchehr Mottaki, UNSC
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Egypt tightens up visa rules for Iraqis
Travel
(Reuters) - Egypt has tightened the procedures for Iraqis entering the country, apparently to stem a flow of people seeking refuge from the violence in Iraq. Instead of obtaining visas at points of entry such as Cairo airport, Iraqis will have to apply in advance through Egyptian consulates abroad, an official source said on Thursday.
Senior Foreign Ministry official Mahmoud Aouf told parliament on Wednesday his ministry was making the change for security reasons, the state news agency MENA said. "This decision is due to the nature of the security circumstances accompanying the entry of Iraqis into Egypt at this stage," he said. "The sensitivities of Egyptian national security requirements must be respected."
After Jordan and Syria, Egypt is one of the places most popular among Iraqis seeking safety. The Iraqi embassy estimates about 120,000 Iraqis have moved to Egypt since the 2003 war to oust Saddam Hussein, an official said. But only about 5,000 or 6,000 have registered as refugees with the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR, a U.N. official said. Iraqis with enough money can stay in Egypt indefinitely and may not feel the need to register, she added. Since the United States and its allies invaded Iraq in 2003, about 700,000 Iraqis have fled to Jordan and more than 400,000 to Syria. Others have gone to Lebanon, Turkey and Iran.
Senior Foreign Ministry official Mahmoud Aouf told parliament on Wednesday his ministry was making the change for security reasons, the state news agency MENA said. "This decision is due to the nature of the security circumstances accompanying the entry of Iraqis into Egypt at this stage," he said. "The sensitivities of Egyptian national security requirements must be respected."
After Jordan and Syria, Egypt is one of the places most popular among Iraqis seeking safety. The Iraqi embassy estimates about 120,000 Iraqis have moved to Egypt since the 2003 war to oust Saddam Hussein, an official said. But only about 5,000 or 6,000 have registered as refugees with the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR, a U.N. official said. Iraqis with enough money can stay in Egypt indefinitely and may not feel the need to register, she added. Since the United States and its allies invaded Iraq in 2003, about 700,000 Iraqis have fled to Jordan and more than 400,000 to Syria. Others have gone to Lebanon, Turkey and Iran.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Allawi in Egypt to outline plans for Iraqi 'national salvation government'
Politics
(MENA) Iyad Allawi arrived in Cairo on March 15 for a "several days" visit, MENA reported the same day, where he is expected to brief Egyptian leaders on his plan to establish a national salvation government. Allawi has already presented the plan to U.S. officials, as well as the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates. His visit to Saudi Arabia coincided with a visit by Kurdistan region President Mas'ud Barzani. When asked if he met Allawi in Riyadh, Barzani told reporters in Irbil on March 15, "I saw Iyad Allawi there, but there was no connection between our visits." When asked his position on Allawi's proposed front, he said: "This is only media reports and there is nothing like that. When I visited Baghdad three months ago, together with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, we tried to meet other political forces to form a broad-based political entity in support of the current Iraqi government. We may only support that [entity]." Media reports indicate that Barzani discussed the front with Allawi and U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad in Irbil earlier this month.
Labels: Egypt, Iyad Allawi, Mas'ud Barzani
