Jordan Times
Friday, October 24, 2008
Kingdom renews support
for Iraq security
By Hani Hazaimeh
AMMAN - Jordan does not tolerate any terrorist operations using its lands as a
base for any attacks against its neighbours, Interior Minister Eid Fayez said on
Thursday.
“We in Jordan have not spared any effort to ensure good relations with our
neighbours and enhance cooperation with all in various fields,” Fayez said in
his remarks at the 5th Meeting of the Ministers of Interior for Iraq
Neighbouring Countries held in Amman.
He added that the government would continue to take all the necessary measures
to address terrorism and enforce its control on borders, particularly the
Jordan-Iraq border.
Reiterating the Kingdom’s support for Iraq’s stability and security, the
minister said the government is keen to provide Iraqi citizens residing in the
Kingdom with all available means to facilitate their stay in the country until
they return to their country.
Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef Ben Abdul Aziz said the global changes have
direct effect not only on Iraq but the entire region and the global society,
adding that Iraq’s safety must top all priorities.
“Any political, economic and social success hinges on an adequate security
environment which ensures safety for Iraqis and their properties,” he said,
calling for a comprehensive revision and evaluation of the progress made, if
any, concerning the implementation of recommendations made during the previous
four meetings and define the obstacles that have faced such a process.
Stressing its role in assisting Iraq in fighting terrorism, Syrian Interior
Minister Bassam Abdul Majid said his country refuses to be a passageway for any
persons that pose any threat to any country.
He added that the Syrian-Iraqi relations are witnessing substantial progress,
especially after Damascus appointed an ambassador to Iraq, stressing that
security cooperation with Iraq is in the interest of the entire region.
Meanwhile, Kuwait’s Interior Minister Sheikh Jaber Khalid Sabah said the
security progress and the decline in terrorist attacks in Iraq was achieved due
to the sincere efforts, dedication and sacrifices of Iraqi security forces.
He called on all countries to adopt a non-interference policy in dealing with
Iraq.
Egypt’s Interior Minister Habib Adli offered training Iraqi police forces in his
country, because, he said, Iraq’s security is, in the first place, “the
responsibility of its people”.
Iranian Interior Minister Ali Kordan said his country opposes any deal that is
not approved by the Iraqi people, in an obvious reference to a security draft
being finalised between Baghdad and Washington to govern the US troops presence
in Iraq after the UN mandate ends by the end of 2008.
“We believe that the Iraqi people must remain strong enough to take their own
decisions in line with their interests,” Kordan said, demanding the US troops to
leave Iraq unconditionally and in accordance with a timetable.
Iraqi Interior Minister Jawad Bolani told reporters before the meeting “any
decision about the accord on the presence of US troops in Iraq will be purely a
Iraqi decision”.
The closing statement stressed the importance of Iraq’s unity and its Arab and
Islamic identity. It also called on concerned Arab countries to take necessary
measures to prevent terrorism infiltration and enforce joint security
cooperation both at bilateral and collective levels.
Furthermore, the statement rejected attempts aimed at linking Islam with
terrorism and welcomed Egypt’s request to host the sixth ministerial meeting in
October 2009, the statement added.
Also Thursday, Prime Minister Nader Dahabi reiterated Jordan’s support for
Iraq’s unity and stability. He made his remarks during a meeting with the Arab
interior ministers who took part in the Amman meeting, the Jordan News Agency,
Petra, said.
He added that the meeting comes in the wake of the positive developments
regarding the security issues in Iraq, stressing the important role of the
neighbouring countries in maintaining Iraq’s security on the basis of
non-interference in its internal affairs.