Zeibari accuses Syria of not cooperating over border infiltration; Saudis border problem
Iraq-Syria, Politics, 6/2/2005

The Iraqi foreign minister Hoshiar Zeibari accused Syria of not taking enough measure in carrying out what is expected in the field of security cooperation, that Syria promised to give to the Iraqi government, Zeibari said.

In a joint press conference in Washington with the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, he said he still hopes that Damascus will prevent the flow of gunmen through its lands, noting that this matter has been discussed along the two past years but without achieving tangible results on the ground.

Zeibari called on the USA and its allies to keep their forces in Iraq until the structure of the Iraqi army and security forces is completed and the country's permanent constitution is written. He explained that Rice told him that Washington is committed to completing its mission in Iraq.

Meantime, the US Secretary Of Defense Donald Rumsfeld yesterday at a press conference was asked:

Question: .. some 40 percent of the suicide bombers Zarqawi has enlisted in Iraq are from Saudi Arabia. Do you feel that the border with -- between Iraq and Saudi Arabia is also a problem with suicide bombers coming across there?

Rumsfeld answered: It is not clear how people are getting into Iraq, although every border is a problem, just as borders for our country are a problem.Ê And it may very well be that people from one country go into another country to enter Iraq.Ê We've seen that people from a variety of different countries entering through Syria, for example, on buses that have been captured.
Ê
Question:ÊMr. Secretary? What about Saudi Arabia?

Question: Mr. Secretary?
Ê
Rumsfeld answered:Ê There's no question but that there have been a number of Saudis involved that have been captured throughout the entire activity.Ê I mean 9/11 had a number of Saudis involved.Ê The violent extremism is -- has generated in that region from a number of locations, and is today.Ê And it's a very dangerous thing to civilized societies.

later in the conference, Rumsfeld said: I must be in a reflective mood today, because I've reflected on an earlier comment that involved Saudi Arabia.Ê And I think it's very important to draw a distinction between a country such as Saudi Arabia, that's been attacked by al Qaeda, that is aggressively going after al Qaeda and capturing and killing terrorists in their country, and a country that is not doing that.Ê And that, to me, is a very important distinction.
Ê
Question: But if its border is just as porous, isn't it also just as much a problem as Syria or Iran?
Ê
Rumsfeld answered:Ê Well, as I indicated earlier, I think it's -- there's a good question as to exactly how people are coming in through which countries.

Air Force General Richard Myers:Ê And I think Saudi Arabia -- and my last visit there would indicate that what the officials there worry about are any border violations going one way or the other; about their own internal security or about the security of Iraq.Ê They worry about both of those.Ê And it's a reasonably well-protected border from the Saudi perspective, for sure.
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Previous Stories:
  Zeibari calls on Damascus to make greater efforts to prevent border infiltration   (6/1/2005)
  Syrian defense minister deplores unfair accusations on infiltration to Iraq   (6/1/2005)
  Damascus handed over Riyadh 30 Saudis tried to sneak to Iraq   (5/31/2005)

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