Saleh speaks of an Iraq - Syria border agreement
Syria-Iraq, Politics, 7/12/2004

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad yesterday stressed Syria's care to maintain Iraq's unity and its desire to help the Iraqi people to win their independence. This was expressed during his meeting with the Deputy chairman of the Interim Iraqi government Barham Saleh who announced reaching a security agreement aiming at controlling the borders between the two states in order to halt sneaking operations.

President al-Assad also received the envoy of the UN secretary general al-Akhdar al-Inraheimi who said following the meeting that the " UN and the neighboring states are concerned with the situation in Iraq and seek to help in restoring its security and stability and rebuilding a new Iraq on basics to be agreed upon by the people of Iraq." Al-Ibraheimi handed over al-Assad a message from the secretary general of the UN Kofi Annan " relating to peace in the Middle East and conditions in Iraq."

However, Saleh's visit to Damascus came at a time when the government of Allawi called on the neighboring states not to solve its problems with Washington at the expense of Iraq, noting also the possibility that nuclear materials were transported to it during the war era, in a step coincided with the killing of seven American soldiers three of them in fighting operations in Iraq.

During the meeting which was attended by the Syrian foreign minister Farouk al-Shara and the Iraqi deputy foreign minister Hamid al-Bayati, al-Assad got a message from the Iraqi prime minister Eyad al-Allawi that " dealt with relations between the two countries and conditions in Iraq," according to SANA which added that talks also dealt with " fields of coordination between the two countries at various levels." Al-Assad stressed Syria's stand in supporting the Iraqi people and Iraq's territorial integrity and the return back of full sovereignty to the Iraqis.

Concerning diplomatic relations between the two countries, Saleh said that the Iraqi side is concerned with the resumption of these relations. A matter which he considered as necessary, stressing that there will be " full diplomatic relations between the two countries." As for the Iraqi assets frozen in Syria, Saleh refused to detail the figures. He said that committees will be meeting to discuss this issue, adding also that " these sums are necessary for the Iraqi economy." Saleh denied that talks were made on the issue of operating the Iraqi oil pipeline which was blocked by the Americans during their invasion of Iraq.

Saleh also refused " words used in the Syrian media " describing it as not " serving the relations " between the two countries " in remarks to continued Syrian media description of the American forces as occupation forces and concentration on the military operations against it as being a resistance to the occupation. But he also added " what is more important is the official position which seeks to support the ambitions of the Iraqi people and government." Saleh stressed that the American occupation forces of Iraq which he described as " multi national forces " will continue until the Iraqi government asks it to leave. He said " we have to be realistic and not ask the multi national forces to leave because security requirements for the stability of this country are not enough." He indicated that this issue was dealt upon during his meeting with President al-Assad.

Saleh added " the Multi national forces are in Iraq at Iraq's invitation and it is not realistic that the withdrawal of the multi national forces at the current condition, and is a useful matter for Iraq and the region because it will bring in catastrophe to Iraq and the security of the region." He continued " we should deal with this matter reasonably and to work for supporting the Iraqi government in order to complete the foundation of security units and the Iraqi army." Saleh said that Baghdad will not ask Damascus to send any forces to help in restoring stability and security in Iraq. He indicated that this topic was not discussed during his meeting with al-Assad, noting that Iraq's position is embodied in that military interference unilaterally from a neighboring state will be a complicated element.

Saleh renewed denial of any notable Israeli presence in northern Iraq. He said that this matter was debated during his meeting with al- Assad and that he asked for " information " about such a presence, rejecting the press reports which talked about this matter, with the article recently published in the " New Yorker" magazine to this effect. Saleh said that " the Kurdish leadership abides by the Iraqi foreign policy and the decisions of the Arab league." Saleh said upon his arrival to Damascus coming from Beirut yesterday that Syria " is part of the Iraqi strategy to ensure the appropriate regional environment for the stability of Iraq and the region as a whole and discussions on developments in the Iraqi situation." Saleh stressed that the Iraqi prime minister Eyad Allawi will visit Damascus " when appropriate conditions are provided and then the conditions will result in tangible results."

Previous Stories:
  Allawi to visit Syria and Iran shortly, the Turkish army warns the Kurds, again   (7/9/2004)
  Khaddam confers with Iraqi tribal delegation   (7/1/2004)
  Syria's statement over the authority turnover to Iraqis   (6/29/2004)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search