US intervention in northern Iraq draws strong criticism
Iraq-USA, Politics, 7/23/1998

The Arab League [AL] has strongly condemned the visit made by the US Undersecretary of State David Welch to northern Iraq.

AL Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs Muhammad Zakaria Ismael on Wednesday described the visit as a "cheap attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of Iraq," adding that it is a US attempt to undermine Iraq's unity. "This US measure does not help in restoring stability to the region," the AL official said. He stressed the AL's commitment to preserving Iraq's unity, independence and territorial integrity.

The Iraqi permanent representative at the AL expressed Iraq's strong regret over the visit. He described it as a flagrant intervention of Iraq's internal affairs and a violation of the international law charters.

In Baghdad, the Iraqi daily al-Thawra on Wednesday condemned a meeting held between the US official and the leaders of the two Kurdish groups in northern Iraq.

The paper viewed the meeting as a strong violation of Iraqi sovereignty. It regretted Turkey's participation in what it called "the conspiracy" as a neighboring state.

The paper added that the meeting is an intervention in the internal affairs of Iraq and a violation of both the UN charter and relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

The paper called upon the UN to take a firm stand against these acts, condemn them and force the countries concerned to abide by honoring Iraq's sovereignty. The paper added that the objective of such activities is to prevent the Iraqi Kurds from maintaining a peace agreement with the legal authorities and to perpetuate the Iraqi authorities' absence from the northern part of the country.

Meanwhile, a US official who asked not to be identified on Wednesday accused Baghdad of giving support to armed Kurds in their fighting with Turkish troops in southeast Turkey. He told reporters in Ankara, "We are concerned over the Iraqi aid to the Kurdistani Labor Party."

The US official added that such cooperation is banned by UN resolutions. He went on that sanctions imposed on Iraq will not be lifted and, "We will not discuss with Iraq its lifting before it commits itself to all UN Security Council resolutions."

The US official was talking about Welsch's visit to northern Iraq, which since 1991 has been controlled by Iraqi Kurd militias, in defiance of Baghdad. The US official described the visit as very successful. "It is a useful expression of the US role in northern Iraq," he said.

Previous Stories:
  US's Welch tries to revive Ankara peace process.   (7/20/1998)
  Kuwait denies relations to US plan to topple Saddam Hussein   (7/20/1998)
  Kurdish reconciliation effort underway   (7/18/1998)

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