Al-Bajaji denies meeting with Peres in Rome: no relations with Israel before the Palestinian state

Member of the Iraqi transitional governing council Adnan al-Bajaji denied yesterday to have had held in Rome two weeks ago any meeting with the former Israeli prime minister Shimon Peres. He stressed that Iraq will not think of establishing diplomatic relations with Israel, unless an agreement is established by the Palestinians and the Israelis on the foundation of a Palestinian state.

Al-Bajaji told al-Nahda paper, mouthpiece of the independent democrats coalition which he presides over that "we cannot even think of establishing relations with Israel unless the Palestinians and the Israelis agree to found a Palestinian state on all lands occupied in 1967 and to have it viable, free and independent," considering that what was said in contrary to this -- is fabrication." He added on what was quoted by the media on a meeting held between him and Peres as "just lies and groundless and the heart of the matter is that Peres talked in a public hearing of the conference which was organized by International socialism recently held in Rome," calling for what he called cooperation between Iraq, Israel, Jordan and Palestine.

Al-Bajaji continued that the chairman of the Kurdistani National Federation Jalal al-Talibani, who participated in the context of the governing council delegation in the conference, stressed that "the rights of the Palestinians should be preserved and honored before calling for complete normalization."

On the other hand, al-Nahda paper quoted the director general of the real state department in Iraq, Zeidan Khalaf Hussein, saying "that only the Jew who keeps the Iraqi nationality and identity, which proves his existence in Iraq has the right to ownership in Iraq," denying rumors that Jews are buying properties in the country.