Friday, August 10, 2007
Iraq security confernece in Syria underlines need for unity
Regional
(SANA) - An international meeting on Iraq Thursday underlined respect to the country's unity and sovereignty, non-interference in its internal affairs and the need to achieve national reconciliation among different Iraqi parties. Security Coordination and Cooperation Committee for Iraq neighboring countries condemned in a final statement following two-day meetings all acts of terrorism and violence which target Iraqi innocent civilians, infrastructure, institutions and worship places.
"Border control is a joint responsibility between Iraq and its neighbors," the statement said, announcing readiness to cooperate with the Iraqi government in its efforts to realize security and stability in Iraq, re-establish Iraqi security and army forces on national and professional bases." The participants agreed to submit a group of recommendations to the foreign Ministers' meeting of Iraq neighboring countries due later in Istanbul and to the interior Ministers' meeting expected in Kuwait.
The two-day meetings discussed issues related to security cooperation, combating terrorism and organized crime, and ways of monitoring borders. Syria, Jordan, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Egypt, Iran, Turkey, Arab League and UN delegations in addition to representatives from UN permanent member states took part in the meeting.
Head of the Iraqi delegation to the meeting, Labid Abawi described recommendations as important and "they meet Iraq's aspirations," adding "discussions on Iraq were held within an atmosphere of frankness, transparency and seriousness. He denied some media reports claiming that the Iraqi delegation handed a paper on smuggling weapons and infiltrating fighters from Syria into Iraq, saying "those reports are incorrect allegations."
"Border control is a joint responsibility between Iraq and its neighbors," the statement said, announcing readiness to cooperate with the Iraqi government in its efforts to realize security and stability in Iraq, re-establish Iraqi security and army forces on national and professional bases." The participants agreed to submit a group of recommendations to the foreign Ministers' meeting of Iraq neighboring countries due later in Istanbul and to the interior Ministers' meeting expected in Kuwait.
The two-day meetings discussed issues related to security cooperation, combating terrorism and organized crime, and ways of monitoring borders. Syria, Jordan, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Egypt, Iran, Turkey, Arab League and UN delegations in addition to representatives from UN permanent member states took part in the meeting.
Head of the Iraqi delegation to the meeting, Labid Abawi described recommendations as important and "they meet Iraq's aspirations," adding "discussions on Iraq were held within an atmosphere of frankness, transparency and seriousness. He denied some media reports claiming that the Iraqi delegation handed a paper on smuggling weapons and infiltrating fighters from Syria into Iraq, saying "those reports are incorrect allegations."
Labels: Deputy Foreign Minister Labid Abawi, Iraq security conference, Syria
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Saudi absent from international security meeting on Iraq in Syria
Regional
(RFE/RL) - Iraqi envoys urged their country's neighbors today for genuine support as a regional meeting on deteriorating security in Iraq got under way in Damascus. The two-day meeting reportedly focuses on ways to better control the Syria-Iraq border. The gathering includes representatives from Iraq, the United States, Iran, Syria, Jordan, Turkey, and Britain. But the absence from the gathering of Saudi Arabia, which has poor relations with Syria, casts doubt over how effective the meeting will be.
U.S. State Department spokesman Tom Casey said the U.S. representatives would mainly be "observers." But he noted that the United States has concerns about Syria's role in the Iraqi crisis, which may be addressed at the meeting. "The first and foremost issue that we raise with [Syria] is the fact that they do continue to allow their territory to be used by foreign fighters and by networks trying to transport them into Baghdad," Casey said. He said Washington is pressing the Syrian government to follow through on its promises to help improve security in Iraq and create "good neighborly relations between themselves and the Iraqi government." The United States also accuses Iran of interfering in Iraq by supporting Shi'ite militia fighters.
U.S. State Department spokesman Tom Casey said the U.S. representatives would mainly be "observers." But he noted that the United States has concerns about Syria's role in the Iraqi crisis, which may be addressed at the meeting. "The first and foremost issue that we raise with [Syria] is the fact that they do continue to allow their territory to be used by foreign fighters and by networks trying to transport them into Baghdad," Casey said. He said Washington is pressing the Syrian government to follow through on its promises to help improve security in Iraq and create "good neighborly relations between themselves and the Iraqi government." The United States also accuses Iran of interfering in Iraq by supporting Shi'ite militia fighters.
Labels: Iraq security conference, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tom Casey
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Turkish leaders angry at Iraq security conference venue change
Turkey
(Kurdistan Observer) - The current anger against the Iraqi Kurdish leaders came to a boiling point in the Turkish capital with the delayed airing of a Massoud Barzani interview in Al Arabiya but the real source of Ankara's furor was the belief that it was the Kurdish opposition to hold the conference of Iraq's neighbors in Istanbul that was regarded as a heavy blow to Turkish diplomacy and prestige. Sources close to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan blamed the Iraqi Kurds for failing to keep their promise to help host the meeting in Istanbul.
Erdogan had met Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, also a leading Kurd, at the Arab summit in Riyadh. The announcement by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki that the meeting will be held in Cairo at the start of May shocked Ankara. Turkish leaders said they were under pressure from some regional countries to boycott the meeting. Turkish leaders feel hosting the meeting in Istanbul was a matter of diplomatic prestige as Turkey had done all the ground work for such a conference which would bring the foreign ministers of the United States, Syria and Iran at the same table for the first time.
Iraqi Kurdish sources in Baghdad said the Iraqi presidential council led by Talabani had nothing to do with the Cairo decision and it was essentially a cabinet decision to host the meeting in the Egyptian capital. A preparatory meeting for the conference was held in Baghdad. The New Anatolian was told Kurds voted in favor of Istanbul but the Arabs represented in the cabinet felt Cairo would be a better venue because they wanted to follow up the results of the Arab summit in Riyadh in another prominent Arab capital.
Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Barham Saleh reportedly favored Istanbul. Sources close to Al Maliki said the Shiite leadership is angry that Ankara has hosted Sunni Arab delegations in recent months much to their opposition. The New Anatolian was told Al Maliki frequently voices this anger at every possible occasion.
Labels: Cairo, Iraq security conference, Kurdistan, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey
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
