Jordan Times
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Iraq welcomes King's
reconciliation initiative Sun, 26-03-2006
By Alia Shukri Hamzeh, Jordan Times
KHARTOUM, March 26 — Iraqi Foreign Minister
Hoshiyar Zebari on Saturday welcomed King Abdullah's initiative to host a
reconciliation conference for Iraqi religious leaders, saying it was a positive
and timely move that will bring different viewpoints together.
“We believe that this initiative will have a positive effect and will contribute
in making all sides reach a better understanding,” Zebari told a press
conference following one of the closed-door meetings of Arab foreign ministers
in preparation for Tuesday's Arab summit.
Zebari said the initiative was discussed during the meeting and incorporated
within resolutions to be endorsed by the 22-member Arab League.
According to diplomatic sources, Arab foreign ministers welcomed the initiative
and hailed Jordan's support and firm position towards Iraq.
“It's a good and really needed initiative,” Arab League Secretary General Amr
Musa told reporters as he came out of the meeting.
The Arab League will help coordinate the conference, which, according to
Jordanian diplomats, is expected to convene in weeks.
King Abdullah announced early March that Jordan was coordinating with the Arab
League to host the conference in Amman to look into means to safeguard Iraq's
unity and stability.
The King said he was worried about recent developments in Iraq and called on
Iraqis to unite against attempts to fuel sectarian tension.
Zebari told reporters that chances of forming a national government were
improving, adding that Arab foreign ministers called for speeding up the process
in order to avoid a political vacuum that would lead to more violence.
According to Agence France-Presse, Arab leaders will urge Iraqis to form a
national unity government which would lead to the withdrawal of coalition
forces.
The 22 leaders will urge for “a quick formation of a national unity government
in Iraq which would help in achieving security and stability, preserve the unity
of Iraq and its people and pave the way for the withdrawal of foreign troops,”
said the draft viewed Saturday by AFP.
This would be the first time Arab leaders call collectively for the withdrawal
of the coalition forces from the war-torn country.
“Our success depends on being able to form a new government. If Iraqis fail to
forming a national coalition government, the country will come face to face with
major threats,” he said. Parliamentary polls were held in December, but a row
over the prime minister as well as sectarian violence has delayed the formation
of Iraq's first full-term government.
Iraqi officials concede that the continuing political crisis has left a
dangerous leadership vacuum, highlighted by the continuing violence and
lawlessness.
Zebari expected the Iraqi government to be formed by end of April.
Iran's influence
The Iraqi top diplomat, who demanded a serious and clear commitment from the
Middle East to help stabilize his country, said Arab involvement has been almost
non-existent over the past three years, which in turn led to negative influence
by other neighboring countries.
“We have been seeking Arab support but to no avail. Other countries like the US
have decided to help us try to eliminate any negative impact or influence
resulting from Iran's role in Iraq,” he said, referring to the US-Iran talks on
Iraq.
On Saturday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said he supported holding the
talks with the US.
Zebari said Iraq would take part in the talks. But Musa warned of marginalizing
the Arab role and said a summit resolution, to be discussed by leaders, will
call for a more powerful Arab role in drawing the future of Iraq.
`No civil war'
Zebari, meanwhile, reiterated that Iraq was not slipping into civil war despite
the growing wave of violence, saying both religious and political leaderships of
the country are united in preventing such a war.
“Conditions in Iraq are difficult and many claim we are slipping into civil war,
but that is not the case,” Zebari told the press conference.
A wave of sectarian killings since the bombing of a major Shiite shrine in
Samarra last month has raised fears of civil war between majority Shiites and
minority Sunnis.
Zebari said the presence of US-led forces “helped maintain peace,” adding that
attacks were not part of sectarian violence influenced by the Samarra bombing.
He said the mandate for these troops concludes at the end of the year. “The
troops will leave, unless the Iraqi government deems their presence necessary to
maintain peace.”