July 23, 2004

A MESSAGE FROM THE SAUDI CROWN PRINCE TO PRESIDENT MUBARAK ON THE IRAQI AND PALESTINIAN DEVELOPMENTS. IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTERS OF NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES AGREE ON AN IRAQI RECOMMENDATION TO HOLD AN INTERIOR MINISTERS MEETING. AL-YAWAR: FEDERALISM IS A WAY TO BRING THE DIVERSE GROUPS IN OUR COUNTRY TOGETHER. THE SULTANATE OF OMAN DENIES ITS INTENTION TO SEND FORCES TO IRAQ. Iraq's neighboring countries issued their final communique, welcoming the power transfer from the US-led coalition to the sovereign interim Iraqi government. The one-day meeting kicked off earlier at the invitation of Egypt, bringing together Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Turkey along with Iraq and Egypt. The foreign ministers of Iraq's neighbouring countries "welcomed the transfer of authority to the sovereign interim government of Iraq and consider this a step towards the formation of an elected and fully democratic representative government in Iraq enabling the people of Iraq to rule themselves and achieve full sovereignty and stability," read the statement. Reaffirming the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq, the ministers stressed "the right of the Iraqi people to freely determine their future and exercise full control over their natural and financial resources". The ministers of Iraq's neighbouring countries further welcomed UN Security Council Resolution 1546, which provides for the end of occupation, the formation of a sovereign interim Iraqi government that assumes authority, pending the election of a transitional government, which will assume the responsibility of governance in accordance with a timetable proposed for Iraq's political process. They also welcomed "the stipulation contained in UNSC Resolution 1546 that the holding of direct democratic elections will in no case be later than January 31, 2005 to elect a transitional national assembly, which will have responsibility to form a transitional government and draft a permanent constitution leading to a constitutionally elected Iraqi government by December 21, 2005", according to the statement. The documents also expressed support for the efforts of the interim Iraqi government to assume its political and security responsibilities, and strengthen the efforts of the Iraqi people to complete the transition process. "The ministers also express support for the Iraqi efforts to reconstruct Iraq, and call upon the international community to support and promote the appropriate conditions for the success and full realization of this effort," added the statement. The ministers of Iraqis neighbouring countries further "reemphasized the importance of the support of the United Nations to the Iraqi people during the transition period, and its central role in ensuing political process including the re-establishment of the governmental institution," according to the final statement. The communique also welcomed the efforts of the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, and his special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi to stabilize Iraq. The top diplomats also stressed that the mandate of the multi-national forces in Iraq "be terminated in accordance with paragraphs (4) and (12) of UN Security Council Resolution 1546, or before in case the Iraqi government should so request", added the statement. The final statement affirmed that these forces should be subject to the approval of the interim government of Iraq and will act in accordance with international law, including the obligations under international humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Conventions". Foreign Minsters of Iraq's neighbouring countries expressed their concern for the continuing unstable situation in Iraq and its negative impact on the success of the political process. They condemned "all terrorist acts against civilians, governmental, humanitarian and religious institutions, as well as international organizations and diplomatic missions operating in Iraq". They reaffirmed the necessity of eliminating all terrorist and other armed groups "which constitute a danger to Iraq and neighbouring states". The ministers also welcomed the proposal by Iraqi Foreign Minster Hoshiar Zibari to convene a meeting of interior ministers and security officials of neighbouring countries to address this issue. "The ministers welcome the invitation extended by Iran to host such a meeting", said the communique. The ministers also vehemently condemned the killing of Kuwaiti and Iranian paws and third-country nationals by the previous Iraqi regime. "They condemn the concealment of these crimes for over a decade by the previous Iraqi regime, which is considered a violation of international humanitarian law." The participants called for bringing to trial the perpetrators of these crimes against humanity. Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia described the meeting of the foreign ministers of countries neighboring Iraq in Cairo as good, noting that all ministers came here to help Iraq at this very important and transitional juncture. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency, Prince Saud indicated that Iraq submitted proposals including the convention of interior ministers of the neighboring countries, adding that the proposal will be submitted to their governments for approval. Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister, arrived in Cairo to lead the Kingdom's delegation to the two-day meeting of the foreign ministers of Iraq's neighboring countries, he also delivered a message from Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz to President Hosni Mubarak. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak held talks on þ with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal on current þconditions in the Middle East, a presidential source said.þ þ The source said the talks focused on conditions in the þPalestinian territories and means of defusing inter-Palestinian tension in þ þGaza Strip.þ þ A power-sharing crisis is now prevailing in the territories, amid mounting þpopular calls for eradicating corruption and nepotism from the Palestinian þadministration.þ þ The source said the talks also dealt with means of support for the Iraqi þgovernment, security and economic conditions in Iraq.þ þ Prince Saud Al-Faisal is taking part in the conference of states þ þneighboring Iraq, with the participation of Egypt, þSaudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey, Iraq, Syria and Jordan. þ Addressing the inaugural session, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Abul-Ghait urged the Iraqis to work together for making the political process in their country successful. Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister left Cairo following his two-day visit to Egypt during which he headed the Saudi delegation to the sixth meeting of foreign ministers of Iraq neighboring countries. At Cairo International Airport, the Prince was seen off by Saudi Ambassador to Egypt Ibrahim al-Saad al-Ibrahim. Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad þ Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah hailed the results of the Iraq neighboring countries' þ þforeign ministers meeting, wrapped up in Cairo Wednesday. þ þ The minister, who arrived in Cairo, said the meeting set þ þmethodological steps for handling the security challenges encountering Iraq þ and its neighboring countries.þ þ "That meeting was distinguished as Iraq was represented as an independent state with through participation of Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari represents a legitimate government."þ þ He also said the ministers have agreed on holding a later meeting for þ þInterior ministers of Iraq and the neighboring countries to discuss security þissue.þ þ He further added that a liaison committee will be formed, and a meeting will be held with the UN Security Council members.þ þ He highlighted a proposal by the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to hold a þmeeting of Iraq's neighbors, the five UN Security Council members, and other five non-member countries. þ þ "We have welcomed that proposal, and will contact the UN Security Council during its upcoming meetings," Sheikh Mohammad said.þ þ Asked about exchanging diplomatic missions between Kuwait and Iraq, the þKuwaiti minister said exchanging such diplomatic missions has been announced, and the steps will be discussed during a visit by the Iraqi Foreign Minister to Kuwait next week.þ þ Sheikh Mohammad has met with his Egyptian, Saudi and Iraqi counterparts þ during his visit to Cairo. Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al-Sabah asserted before his departure from Kuwait on þ the importance of all Iraqi neighboring countries' efforts to stabilize the þregion, describing the chaos in Iraq as a virus that should be contained.þ þ He also asserted on the importance of this meeting, especially as it's the þfirst meeting after the official transfer of authority to the Iraqi þ þgovernment. Adding that Iraq will official resume its place in the þ þInternational community after the Security Council resolution 1546.þ þ Sheikh Mohammed also asserted that the Iraqi people should take part not þonly in the reconstruction of their country, but in the Arab world, hoping þthat results of this meeting would be beneficial to all.þ On the other hand Iraqi President Ghazi Al-Yawar assured the country's Kurdish population that their existing autonomy would be preserved within the context of a future federal Iraq. "We will support this experience of autonomy by all means," said Yawar during a visit to the tourist village of Salahaddin, north of Arbil, where he met Kurdish leader Massud Barzani. "Federalism is a way to bring the diverse groups in our country together." After the 1991 Gulf War, the Kurds broke away from the central government in Baghdad to set up their own administration in the north under British and US protection. They have continued to enjoy wide autonomy. Yawar, a Sunni from the northern city of Mosul, said the federal nature of Iraq as outlined in the country's interim fundamental law passed under the administration of the US-led occupation "would be respected word-for-word." For his part Barzani, head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, hailed Yawar as "a friend of the Kurdish people". Barzani's stronghold is in Arbil while that of his rival, now turned ally, Jalal Talabani is Sulaymaniyah. Iraq's Kurds have a "natural right" to reclaim their old land in the northern city of Kirkuk after being driven out by Saddam Hussein, Yawar said. Ethnic tensions have risen between Kurds, Arabs and Turkmen in oil-rich Kirkuk, home to 750,000 people, as groups jostle for advantage following the handover of power in Iraq from U.S. occupying forces to the interim government on June 28. On a recent visit to Kirkuk, Yawar aroused Kurdish suspicions by declaring that nobody would be forced to leave their homes in the new Iraq. But at the news conference yesterday, Yawar said those who had moved to the city after 1968 would be given financial incentives to leave. "The government cannot force people to do something unwillingly...but for those that were displaced it is their natural right to go back and take their lands," Yawar said. Meanwhile King Abdullah II Monday affirmed Jordan's full support to Iraqi government in its drive to ensure security and stability in Iraq. "Iraq's security is part of Jordan's security," King Abdullah said during a meeting at Raghadan Palace with Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi. The King urged the international community to back the Iraqi interim government's efforts designed to put an end to acts of violence targeting Iraqi police and citizens. During the meeting held, over a luncheon and attended by senior officials from both countries, the King and Iraqi Prime Minister discussed bilateral cooperation in economic, trade, investment and oil fields. To that end, the two sides will discuss the formation of Jordanian-Iraqi higher joint committee to review all cooperation programs between the two countries to the best interest of the peoples in both countries. In Paris the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated that Turkey is against the superiority or dominance of one ethnic group over another in Iraq. "The autonomy of one ethnic group in Iraq could spark civil war," Erdogan warned. In Manama the top U.S. military commander in the Middle East blamed Syria and Iran for contributing to instability in Iraq and expressed regret over the withdrawal of Filipino peacekeepers from Iraq, warning that appeasing terrorism would backfire. Gen. John Abizaid also confirmed for the first time that former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was still in Iraq, being held by U.S. forces. Abizaid expressed concern that the Syrians were not doing enough to stop border infiltration, a longtime American accusation against Damascus. Syria has increased border security but has acknowledged it could not fully secure its long desert border with its eastern neighbor. "The Syrians have allowed, and I don't say they do this with government approval, but there is too much infiltration of money and foreign fighters that takes place across the Syrian border," said Abizaid, head of the U.S. Central Command. Abizaid declined comment on whether there were any Iranian Revolutionary Guards in Iraq, but he said he believed there were elements in Iran that were interfering in southern Iraq. "I do know there are groups within Iran that want to play a destabilizing role in Iraq and I think that would be most unhelpful for Iran and most unhelpful for Iraq." On the other hand Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said he reached an anti-terror agreement with Jordan King Abdullah II, Baghdad newspaper reported last Wednesday. The agreement would further strengthen the fruitful and strong relations between the two countries, Allawi was quoted as saying. "We reached a security agreement with our brothers in Jordan," said Allawi, pointing out that Jordan pledged unlimited support to Iraq to fight terror, safeguard security and conduct strategic cooperation in various fields. Meanwhile Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said his country would like to have troops from Arab and Islamic countries to protect the United Nations mission in Iraq, and he asked Egypt to help. Allawi, speaking to reporters after meeting with Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak, was asked whether he had asked Egypt for troops to protect U.N. staff. Allawi replied that he had asked the Egyptian government «to help us in this direction and to talk to some Arab and Islamic leaders to send forces to protect the United Nations.» Also, the Iraqi leader said his country needs the United Nations. He said the U.N. chief expressed the wish to expand the work of the United Nations in Iraq during a telephone conversation. President Hosni Mubarak received Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi. The two leaders held important political and economic talks on the latest developments in Iraq. President Mubarak, during his talks with Allawi, reviewed Egypt's diplomatic efforts to mitigate the deteriorating conditions in Iraq as well as Egypt's participation in rebuilding Iraq. Meanwhile, the Cabinet opened the official round of talks between Egypt and Iraq under Prime Minister Dr. Ahmed Nazif and his Iraqi counterpart Iyad Allawi to discuss means of joint cooperation in several domains particularly economic, trade and investment fields as well as public utilities, infrastructure and communications. Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif said an agreement has been reached to widen cooperation between Egypt and Iraq in the various political and economic domains. He noted that a joint higher committee will be formed to follow up cooperation between the two sides. At a joint press conference held following his meeting with visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, Nazif explained that the Egyptian-Iraqi higher committee will tackle programmes to boost cooperation and follow up implementing measures in this respect. Nazif asserted that Egypt was keen on realizing stability and development for Iraq in order to restore its position as an active member in the Arab region and in the world. Nazif also noted that cooperation domains between the two countries would include energy and oil, transport, health, communications and information technology. He said the most important elements for this cooperation come through economic integration and establishing joint economic entities among Arab countries in general and both Egypt and Iraq in particular. Allawi, on his part, expressed thanks for the President and the Egyptian people, asserting that Egypt had been and was still adopting supportive stances to Iraq. He said he agreed with Nazif on establishing relations with Egypt based on brotherhood and solidarity. He said we would work on implementing several projects to push cooperation ties ahead. Responding to a question on elections in Iraq, Allawi asserted that the elections would be held in due time and the main concern for the Iraqi government in the political transformation stage is to achieve stability and development. He said Iraq is an important part in the Middle East region and is passing through critical circumstances. The Iraqi Premier expressed hope that sisterly and friendly countries should contribute to maintaining security until Iraq completes the formation of its armed forces and security cadres. Allawi said the terror forces utilized the security vacuum left in Iraq during the war to destabilise the country. He affirmed that his country would continue building up its military and intelligence capabilities, police and interior security forces and would achieve victory over terrorists. In Oman on the Sultanate's stand on the dispatch of Arab forces to Iraq, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Youssef Ibn Alawi said it was an issue to be looked into by the Arab League and it also relates to the sovereignty of each country, adding the Omani military forces operate under the umbrella of the AGCC. He noted the situation in Iraq does not require the dispatch of more forces, saying the focus should be on assisting Iraq and Iraqis to achieve national unity, which will result in security and stability. Alawi said the Iraqi interim government led by Prime Minister Iyad Allawi will endeavour to achieve stability and help Iraqis realise their aspirations. On the re-opening of Israel Trade office Alawi said that it can not be opened during these circumstances when Israel is practising its utmost aggression against the Palestinian people and especially building the separating wall. On Omani-Yemeni relations after sorting out the borders line Alawi said the matter has been solved with the wisdom of both leaderships in Oman and Yemen. In London British Prime Minister Tony Blair hit back at critics of his decision to go to war in Iraq based on intelligence later condemned as flawed, insisting he had made "the right decision". In a crucial parliamentary debate about an official inquiry last week which found that much of the pre-war intelligence about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) had turned out to be unreliable, Blair was unrepentant. "I still think we made the right decision," he said of last year's US-led war to remove Saddam Hussein, strongly supported by the prime minister despite heavy opposition at home. "The intelligence really left little doubt about Saddam Hussein and weapons of mass destruction," Blair told parliament. The information "made it absolutely clear that we were entirely entitled on the basis of that to go back to the United Nations and say there was a continuous threat from Saddam Hussein," he said. On the other hand unidentified gunmen assassinated the governor of al-Basra, Hazem Tawfiq al-Einji, while he was in his office. His son, Issam said that the gunmen opened fire at his father's car, while it was stationed at an inspection point close to the house which also resulted in strongly wounding one of his guards. He explained that preliminary information indicate that the security forces arrested the attackers. Worthy mentioning that al-Einji was a deputy for the governor of al-Basra, but became acting governor after the governor, judge Wael Abul Latif was appointed a minister for governorates affairs in the Interim Iraqi government in June. Concerning acts of assassination, the director general of the Iraqi ministry of defense, Issam al-Dujeili, was killed yesterday in Baghdad when unidentified persons opened fire at him as he was leaving his house. Last Monday witnessed different attacks in Iraq. Nine persons were killed and other 62 wounded in a booby trapped car explosion before a police center in al-Ilaam quarters in Baghdad. One British soldier was killed and other two injured in a British warplane crash in al Basra to the south of Iraq. A spokesman for the army that it was not clear yet the implications of the plane crash, ruling out that it was attacked. In al-Najaf, the Iraqi police found a weapons arsenal in Baher al- Najaf to the east of the holy city. Lt, Gen. Hussein Ghazalli said that the arsenal is composed of 215 missiles and 194 mortar shelling. Iraq's interim prime minister issued a decree allowing a controversial newspaper to reopen after U.S. officials closed it in March, setting off months of fighting between U.S. forces and militants loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. The weekly Al-Hawza was the mouthpiece of al-Sadr's "Sadrist" movement, routinely carrying his fiery sermons on its front page along with articles sharply critical of the U.S.-led occupation, which formally ended June 28. Iraq's former American governor, L. Paul Bremer, ordered the newspaper closed for two months on March 28 for allegedly inciting violence against coalition troops. Bremer's closure order expired May 28, but al-Hawza's editor in chief, Abbas al-Robai, has said that trying to resume publication then could have exposed the newspaper's editorial staff to arrest. On the other hand the new U.S. ambassador to Iraq, John Negroponte, has called for a review of the use of the money to see to see how it can be speeded up, particularly to create more jobs. Negroponte took over as the top U.S. official in Iraq after the handover of sovereignty on June 28 to the interim Iraqi government from the U.S. authority. U.S. Ambassador John D. Negroponte expressed optimism that the country's tenuous security situation would improve. "I'm quite hopeful," he said in his first public remarks to foreign reporters since arriving late last month. But Negroponte acknowledged that the task was a difficult one. "We do have a plan to build up the Iraqi security forces. Is success absolutely assured? I'm not going to make that prediction." Negroponte arrived for an informal lunch with the reporters in a heavily armed motorcade that took a circuitous route to minimize the risk of attack. In addition to a failed assassination attempt on the country's justice minister, a police chief was assassinated in Iskandariya, a volatile town just south of Baghdad. In nearby Mahmoudiya, an Iraqi National Guard soldier was killed and five civilians were injured when he arrested a suspected bomber, whose car exploded. In his comments, Negroponte struck two often repeated themes: The future of the country is now in Iraqi hands, and the key to stability will be national elections, even if the process of holding them involves violence. Negroponte listed three areas in the which the United States would be active: training the new Iraqi security forces; fostering the steps that would lead to elections in early 2005; and allocating the $18.4 billion in reconstruction funds approved last year by Congress. Negroponte said that the amnesty under consideration would not extend to those who "might have killed American soldiers." He added that, in principle, the idea of a broad amnesty was a good one, "to the extent that it involves reaching out to alienated elements of this society who might be willing to come back into the political tent." Although clearly aware that improving the situation in Iraq is a big job, Negroponte sought to downplay his role and that of the embassy. "It's an important embassy, I'm not suggesting that it's not," he said. "But it's not a mega-embassy, it's not a super-embassy, it's an embassy." Negroponte spoke hours after the assassination attempt on Justice Minister Malik Dohan Hassan. A group associated with Jordanian-born militant Abu Musab Zarqawi, whom U.S. officials have labeled the mastermind of the worst violence in postwar Iraq, claimed responsibility on an Islamic website. The attack killed five of the minister's bodyguards, although Hassan was unharmed.