Maher meets with Iraqi figures
Egypt-Iraq, Politics, 8/25/2003

Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher met on Sunday with a number of Iraqi figures currently visiting Cairo. The one-hour meeting covered the situation in Iraq and efforts exerted to enable the Iraqi people rule themselves.

The meeting was attended from the Iraqi side by Ibrahim Al-Jaafari, a Shiite from the Dawa Party, and Iraq's chairman of the transitional Governing Council, Adnan al-Bajaji, a Sunni and ex-foreign minister Sheikh Ghazi Ogail Alyour, a Sunni and son of Shamar tribe's chieftain, Ahmed Sabba Al-Baraak, a Shiite in charge of coordinating the Human Rights Society and chieftain of Abu Sultan's tribe.

The meeting was held out of keenness of the Interim Governing Council (IGC) in Iraq to move towards the Arab world due to its importance, Jaafari, as a representative of the visiting Iraqi group, told a press conference following the meeting held with the Foreign Minister.

"The extension of an invitation to the delegation to visit these countries at this level is an open rather than implied recognition in terms of law," Jaafari said.

He pointed out that the delegation had made its Arab tour for a certain political work. "We expressed what we wanted to say and got acquainted with the views of the Arab countries we visited," he added.

The coalition forces in Iraq represent an exceptional case imposed by the war, Jaafari said, adding that their existence is a consequence of the Saddam Hussein era.

We look forward to ending the current phase of Iraq's history as soon as possible and with the least effort to achieve Iraq's political independence, Jaafari told the press conference held in the aftermath of the meeting with Maher.

He pointed out that the Iraqi government to be formed soon will include a foreign minister who will fill Iraq's seat in Arab League Ministerial meetings next month.

Jaafari denied the existence of Israeli goods in Iraq. "There are no dealings between Iraq and Israel," he said.

"The Iraqi people will choose and decide on Iraq's foreign policy," he added.

Jaafari expressed hope there would be diplomatic representation for Iraq in the Arab states soon. "Several Arab countries, including Egypt, have displayed mutual keenness in this respect," he said.

However, he said the Egyptian representation in Iraq may be delayed for longer than the Iraqi representation in Egypt due to the nature of the situation there and the way of dealing in light of keenness to provide full protection for members of diplomatic missions.

He called for supporting Iraq to improve its internal conditions at the political, information and economic levels. "We need the support of the Arab countries to promote Iraq's position in the Arab League and in turn the UN," Jaafri said.

The better the performance of the IGC, the sooner the occupation would come to an end, Jaafari said.

He pointed out that the Iraqis have refused to be an administration or a mere consultative council.

The IGC has been formed with terms of reference qualifying it to form a government and decide on the constitutional issue on its own, he added.

Previous Stories:
  Demonstration in al-Azhar in support of the Intifada, against Iraq's occupation   (8/23/2003)
  Syrian demand to exclude Israeli companies from reconstructing of Iraq   (8/21/2003)
  Maher says Iraqi people should have right to self governance   (8/4/2003)

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