Al-Baz: Egypt rejects US administration in Iraq

Speaking in Ain Shams University, Presidential Political Advisor Dr. Osama Al-Baz said that Iraq is a great country with an ancient history. Iraq must be ruled by the Iraqi people.

Al-Baz described any Anglo-American administration in Iraq as occupation, stressing that the Iraqi people have to rule themselves. 'I thing the US forces will not be able to remain in Iraq as an invasion forces for a long period of time. This would be a temporary stage till completing restoration of important utilities as well as security and order,' he noted.

The top official remarked that it was of great importance for the Iraqi factions to hold political conferences to come up with an Iraqi government, even a transitional one. Such a government should pave the way for the establishment of political parties and legislative, executive and judicial bodies, noted Al-Baz, adding that this was the business of the Iraqis only.

As to the role of Egypt to stave off war on Iraq, the presidential advisor elaborated that Egypt tried to refute all US accusations to Iraq of possessing weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), and that there other states that positively have such weapons, mainly Israel. Such an American thought should have been faced as it threatens the Arab national security, he pointed out, remarking that the Egyptian efforts were clearly shown in the Sharm El-Sheikh emergency summit, the Islamic summit in Doha and the Non-Alignment summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

As to calls on Egypt to close the Suez Canal, Al-Baz pointed out that Egypt has always been respecting the law, not out of weakness, as he put it, but of Egypt's keenness on maintaining its credibility. 'Relevant international agreement of Constantinople regulates passage in the Suez Canal and the commitments of beneficiary countries and the owner of the Canal.

According to that agreement, Egypt does not have the right to prevent ships from passing, unless they belong to a country in a state of war with Egypt or going to a country in war with Egypt,' Al-Baz elaborated.

'Therefore, Egypt is acting in accordance with international law,' he said, adding that by so doing, Egypt tried to get another countries to follow and respect it.

On the US threats to Syria, Al-Baz said he believes that such acts came as a kind of pressure on Syria and not a real threat. 'The US would bear a heavy moral and material cost in case it took any action against Syria,' he said.

Speaking about the common Arab action, Al-Baz referred to President Mubarak's stressing on the imperativeness of reinvigorating Arab action within the framework of the Arab League.

'The Arabs are getting more and more convinced that they are in the same ditch and that there are many ideas in hand for activating common Arab action,' noted the presidential advisor.

Al-Baz also stressed the importance of boosting inter-Arab economic cooperation as well as promoting technology acquisition for the Arab countries to cope up with the world progress.