Baghdad rejects national reconciliation under an Arab umbrella
Iraq-Regional, Politics, 10/10/2005

The Interim Iraqi government rejected the call made by the Arab League to convene a national reconciliation conference in Iraq and announced it is not in need of convening such a conference under the umbrella of the Arab League.

The spokesman for the Iraqi prime minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, Leith Kebbeh said that what the Iraqis are in need of is that religious establishments to disseminate what he called the "culture of banning the shedding of Iraqi blood and people's properties."

Kebbeh said that Iraq is in need of adopting common stance by political figures and political movements in calling for a ban on violence in the political activity.

He described the visit of the Arab League delegation to Iraq as preliminary, noting that the delegation chaired by the Arab League assistant secretary general Ahmad Bin Hali will continue its meetings in order to define a "work plan for important matters. "

He also considered that his country is not practically in need of Arab forces to help in keep security in the country, but expressed readiness of the Iraqi government to accept any help from any Arab state to train or equip the Iraqi forces.

Bin Hali had announced after his arrival in Baghdad that his visit falls in the course of preparing for a national Iraqi congress under the umbrella of the Arab league "that enables the Iraqis to maintain dialogue and discussions, as well as the work to find a formula to ensure Iraq's unity and safety, and complete a vast political operation to establish state's establishments and end foreign interference."

Bin Hali on Sunday started discussions in Baghdad in preparation for the visit of the AL Secretary General Amer Mousa for holding Conference of National Reconciliation in Iraq.

In a statement to reporters today, Bin Hali said that the visit aims at preparing for Moussa's visit, adding the delegation's mission is to meet all Iraqi political and religious parties and chiefs of the tribes to set a timetable for Moussa's meetings.

He continued that the delegation's mission came in the framework of preparation for holding an Iraqi national conference under the umbrella of the AL in a way that enables the Iraqi people to start a dialogue among the Iraqi people and to find a way to save Iraq's unity.

The Arab Ministerial Committee, which met in Judah in Saudi Arabia last Sunday, decided to delegate Moussa to Iraq for preparing the Conference of National Reconciliation under the sponsorship of the Arab states

Previous Stories:
  Moussa asserts importance of Iraq visit   (10/7/2005)
  Arab League official to Baghdad on reconciliation mission   (10/4/2005)
  Arab foreign ministers meet on Iraq   (10/3/2005)

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