Abul Gheit: contacts for convening a reconciliation conference by all Iraqi powers

Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said that the upcoming stage would witness consultations by the foreign ministers of Arab countries which took part in Sharm El-Sheikh conference on the future of Iraq for following up the implementation of what was agreed upon during the conference.

In statements to reporters, he said that consultations and contacts will be held in light of the countries' readiness to create an atmosphere favorable for accelerating the Iraqi issue in the near future.

Egypt is keen on investing the positive outcome of the conference and following up the resolutions with all the parties concerned, he said, referring to contacts to be held soon with his Iraqi counterpart Hoshiar Zebari in this regard.

He pointed out that the Sharm El-Sheikh conference has come up with important results regarding the future of Iraq, adding that these results should be employed in a good way, a remarkable change could be realized regarding the situation in Iraq.

He expected more active moves to be taken concerning Iraq in the near future, asserting that Egypt which chaired the conference, dealt with the suggestions of Bahrain and the Arab League on holding a reconciliation conference of all the Iraqi powers.

The issue will be on the agenda of Egypt's policy in the coming stage, he said.

The foreign minister said that consultations would be held soon with Iraqi foreign minister Hoshiar Zebari on implementing follow up mechanism which was decided on by the conference.

He said that Egypt in its capacity as chairman of the conference discussed a proposal by Bahrain and the Arab League for holding a reconciliation conference for all Iraqi powers.

Answering a question on the issue of federalism in iraq, Abu Gheit said that this issue does not concern us as it was contained in the Security Council resolution 1546, adding that the issue is conditioned by the will and decision of the Iraqi people.

He said that Egypt is confident that the Iraqi people would not allow the partition of their homeland.

Al-Ahram learned from diplomatic sources that Britain would make contacts with the Iraqi government in the upcoming few days for discussing prospects for the implementation of Bahrain's proposal for holding an Iraqi national conference attended by the Iraqi government and the national opposition powers.

The sources indicated that Egyptian-Iraq and Egyptian-British contacts would be made in the upcoming stage on the Bahraini proposal in the framework of implementing the results of Sharm El-Sheikh conference.