Allawi distances himself from statements of his defense minister on Iran; Iraqi national congress opens Saturday
Iraq-Iran, Politics, 7/28/2004

It was announced officially yesterday in Baghdad that the Iraqi national congress will start its works next Saturday in spite of the request by the UN to postpone it for one month and looming by the Interim Iraqi President Ghazi Ojeil Elyawer to the possibility of postponing it for one or two weeks, while the Iraqi Interim prime minister Eyadd Allawi distanced himself from statements made by the Iraqi defense minister Hazem al-Shalaan who described Iran as Iraq's first enemy. A matter which was regretted by Tehran.

Chairman of the preliminary committee of the national congress Foaud Masoum said that the "Iraqi national congress will start its works on July 31st," adding that the " call to take part in the congress includes Muqtada al-Sader movement" although the movement of the Shiite leader boycotted on Sunday the meeting which was held in Najaf to appoint representatives of this area to the congress.

Meantime, the spokesman for the Iranian government, Abdullah Ramadan Zada said that the position of the Iraqi defense minister regarding Iran is " in contradiction with the official messages we received from Baghdad and with Allawi's statements." He added that the Iranian government " does not consider what was said a reflection to the official stand of Iraq," noting that despite the wound caused by the former Iraqi regime, the Iranian nation and government are working for supporting the Iraqi people."

Iraq's deputy foreign minister Hamid al-Bayati on Tuesday described the Iraqi- Iranian relations as "good" and that Iran is a neighboring state for Iraq and provided support to it during the past years to get rid off the former regime of Saddam Hussein. He indicated that the " statements made by the Iraqi defense minister in describing Iran as the first enemy for Iraq do not reflect the position of the Iraqi government. "

Previous Stories:
  The release of one Egyptian diplomat   (7/27/2004)
  On Allawi - Hariri joint press conference   (7/27/2004)
  Iraq denies normalization with Israel, in talks between Allawi, Hariri   (7/27/2004)
  Iranian official: foreign troops must leave Iraq   (7/17/2004)
  Iraqi resistance prepares for suicide operations, Iran warns against violating red lines   (5/15/2004)
  Tehran prepares a file against Saddam   (4/23/2004)

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