Italy doubts convening the international conference in Egypt

The Italian deputy prime minister Jan Franco Feini in Cairo yesterday talked about "doubts" concerning the convening of an international conference on Iraq in Egypt, but he stressed his country's support for such a conference.

The Egyptian foreign minister Ahmad Abu al-Gheit on Saturday announced that the said international conference will be held in the "last week of November" in Egypt. He explained that consultations are underway between Egypt and sides which will be taking part in the conference which are Iraq's neighboring states and, G-8, the Arab league, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the UN."

Feni said in conclusion of his meeting with the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak that "Italy supports the convening of the international conference on Iraq in Egypt and that in case an agreement will not be reached for convening this conference, this is attributed to doubts expressed by certain international sides to Egypt to host it. He added that these sides prefer to convene the conference in the UN for instance, instead of Egypt.

Feni explained that "Italy considers that the conference includes all sides concerned with the situation in Iraq and all Iraqi groups but this is without legitimizing the terrorist groups." He said he does not think that " the withdrawal of the American forces from Iraq should be listed on the conference's agenda."