Armitaj in Baghdad discusses: neighbors; Allawi starts today his tour from Jordan
Iraq-USA, Politics, 7/19/2004

The US under secretary of state Richard Armitaj arrived unexpectedly in Baghdad on Sunday where he had discussed with the Iraqi officials, Iraq's relations with the neighboring states, upon the beginning of a tour the Iraqi prime minister Eyad Allawi is due to start in Amman today, covering Syria and Lebanon.

Meantime, some 14 persons were killed in an American bombardment, it is the 6th of its kind within one month at a house in Falujja, in an operation carried out at the permission of the Iraqi prime minister Eyad Allawi, on which the al-Tawhid Wal- Jihad movement led by Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi announced it had set a reward of USD 280,000 to the one who " brings the head of Allawi."

Armitaj said in a press conference with the Iraqi foreign minister Hoshyar Zeibari that the " US message here is very simple. There is a sovereign state there and our mission is to support this government as much as we can." He added "the difference is that we no longer sit in the front on the car," noting that the Iraqi leaders are the one who make the decisions."

On the air raid against Falluja, Armitaj said that Allawi approved it in advance. he explained " we did not launch the attack merely because we want that. But a sovereign state had to approve it." For his part, Zeibari said he had discussed with Armitaj several issued of joint concern between the two countries especially Iraq's relations with the neighboring states and the need for the support of these countries in supporting the security and stability process in the country.

Zeibari added that the role of the UN in the political operation was also discussed as well as highlighting the need for more active involvement of the UN to this effect under commitment to convene a national conference by the end of July and making free elections by the beginning of 2005.

Zeibari announced that Iraq will appoint today ambassadors in some 43 diplomatic missions abroad in a move which aims at strengthening relations with the outer world, noting that he is planning to resume diplomatic relations with all Arab states including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

Armitaj, the highest American official to visit Iraq since handing over the authority on June 28 had met earlier Allawi and President Ghazi Ojeil Elyawer.

Allawi said he had discussed with Armitaj co-operation between Baghdad and Washington and efforts aiming at abrogating all foreign Iraqi debts estimated at USD 120 billion. He added " we are grateful for the US over its continued support for liberating Iraq and rebuilding it." For his part, Armitaj said he had discussed with the Iraqi leaders the security condition in the country as well as the political process which is presumed to lead to general elections in January 2005.

Armitaj arrived in Iraq coming from Kuwait where he had discussed together with the US envoy to the Middle East William Burns, with the Kuwaiti minister of the Interior Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah security conditions in Iraq and means of fighting terrorism, according to the Kuwaiti news agency.

Meantime, Allawi is due to arrive today in Jordan where he will hold talks with the Jordanian prime minister Faisal al-Fayez and several Jordanian officials dealing with, according to the Jordanian news agency, ( Petra) " bilateral relations between the two sisterly countries and means of strengthening them in all fields.

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