Iraq ambassador to Damascus denied knowing of pictures to resistance men with Syrian officials
Iraq-Syria, Politics, 12/24/2004

Iraqi designated ambassador to Syria Hassan al-Alawi has denied what was quoted about him that he knows about pictures for Iraqi fighters with Syrian officials.

Al-Alawi said that when he was asked by the British daily "Times" on statements by the Iraqi defense minister Hazem al-Shalaan that there are pictures for Syrian officials with Iraqi gunmen found with them after the recent battles in Falluja, he answered he does not know about such pictures.

Al-Alawi denied that these statement were stated by him, noting that the "role of an ambassador in crisis is the role of the fireman, rather then the one who pours oil on fire." He added he had talked to the Iraqis and notified them that these statement constitute "a violation to my work" in Syria.

Al-Alawi repeated what he had stated earlier that there are two trends in the Iraqi government one of them says "since the defense minister speaks of documents why does he not show these documents," while the second trend says "problems are not treatable by media, rather via special and diplomatic channels." Al-Alawi recalled what the Iraqi prime minister Eyad Allawi said that "Baghdad asked the Syrians for the names of wanted Iraqis including the brother of the Iraqi president" Sab'awi, adding that he does not rule out that similar requests were sent to Jordan and Lebanon, noting that this often happens "among countries."

Al-Alawi concluded that his relations with Damascus goes back to 25 years "does not permit him to accuse Syria of what he was quoted." He indicated he believes in the saying of the late President Hafez al-Assad "The media should not be a side in political differences because it blocks the lines for returning back."

Previous Stories:
  Abdul Aziz al-Hakim news conference in Damascus   (12/14/2004)
  Al-Jaafari look forward to Syria's continued support to Iraq   (12/8/2004)
  Al-Assad receives Iraq's vice president   (12/7/2004)

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