Syrian president and Iraqi Foreign Minister on the Iraqi crisis
Syria-Iraq, Politics, 2/11/1998

Syrian President Hafez al-Assad on Tuesday received Iraqi Foreign Minister Muhammad Said al-Sahaf and members of the accompanying Iraqi delegation. Sahaf conveyed to the Syrian President a communique from Iraq's President Saddam Hussein on the efforts and initiatives proposed to deal with the situation in Iraq.

Assad was briefed by al-Sahaf on Iraq's viewpoints on the crisis, on the UN inspectors' work in Iraq and on the initiative proposed to solve it on the basis of UN resolutions which were accepted by Iraq. President Assad expressed his country's concern for Iraq's territorial integrity and the unity of the Iraqi people.

In a press conference held later in the day, Sahaf expressed satisfaction over the meeting with President Assad. He told reporters that he conveyed a message from Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to President Assad concerning the efforts and initiatives underway to solve the crisis between Iraq and the US. He added that the message dealt with Iraq's views towards the crisis with the US as well as with relations between the two countries.

Sahaf also said the two countries' positions are the same on opposition to the use of military force, implementation of Security Council resolutions, the lifting of the embargo imposed on the people of Iraq, and solving the crisis by political means.

Sahaf said relations between Syria and Iraq are in early development phase. He spoke about the reasons for the crisis and the behavior of UNSCOM during inspections, with its US and British members who he said seek the continuation of the blockade on Iraq and the humiliation of the people of Iraq and who he said seek to turn Iraq into an occupied territory where everyone's moves are watched.

He said that all initiatives are made under the Russian initiative in order to solve this crisis. This initiative acquires the support of the Arab countries, he said, adding Iraq is working to avert a military confrontation, but, "We continue our daily life while expecting the worst and we will not be frightened by US threats."

Sahaf went on to say the objective of the events taking place in Northern Iraq is to weaken Iraq and thereby divide it. "This will not be achieved, and the conspiracy to divide Iraq is not threatening Iraq only, rather other Arab countries," the Iraqi Foreign Minister commented.

Previous Stories:
  Iraq's president to ask Egypt for an Arab solution   (2/10/1998)
  Syria insists on peaceful solution to Iraqi crisis   (2/10/1998)
  US suffers setback in military support against Iraq   (2/9/1998)

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