Foreign ministers of Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia conclude meeting; rejection to recognize the Iraqi rule
Regional-Iraq, Politics, 8/12/2003

The Egyptian foreign minister Ahmed Maher said that the Arab states will deal with the Iraqi transitional council which is appointed by the USA. But will not recognize it as a legitimate government

Maher said that all, including those who had established this council and supported it "know it is just a step that should be in the direction of the Iraqi people practicing of its sovereignty. However, it does not now represent the Iraqi sovereignty, nor the legitimate authority in Iraq."

He indicated his country's readiness to receive members of the provisional council in their personal capacity, rather than being representatives for the Iraqi people.

This position, however, comes as a consolidation to the Arab position expressed by foreign ministers members in the Arab follow up committee stemming from the Beirut Summit, which refused to declare their support for the Iraqi governing council. They also announced their countries' rejection to sending Arab forces to Iraq to keep peace under the current conditions.

Maher's statements came following an urgent meeting held by the foreign ministers of each of Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Syria, just one day after the Israeli warplanes raided south Lebanon followed by the killing of one Israeli and wounding other four by Hizbullah anti- aircraft missiles fired at Israeli planes which violated the Lebanese airspace.

The Syrian foreign minister Farouk al-Shara headed for Cairo to meet with his counterparts Saudi foreign minister prince Saud al-Faisal and the Egyptian Ahmed Maher.

Al-Faisal was accompanying the Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah to Egypt on Sunday to hold talks with the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak concerning the recent Israeli escalations in the occupied Palestinian territories in addition to the American and international pressure to recognize the Iraqi governing council.

Previous Stories:
  Arab League for Iraq's territorial integrity   (8/8/2003)
  Arab foreign ministers refuse sending troops to Iraq   (8/6/2003)
  Arab follow up committee meets today in Cairo: Difficult Iraqi questions   (8/5/2003)

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