Direct Dialogue between Iraq and the USA is needed, Jordan's King says

King Hussein of Jordan reaffirmed that Iraq wants a direct dialogue with the US, speaking to reporters after talks with United Arab Emirates's president, Sheikh Zayed bin-Sultan al-Nahyan, last night.

"The aim of the dialogue is to solve all the outstanding difficulties between the sides to move from the current situation into a better one," King Hussein said. "I have no initiatives concerning the Iraqi issue," the king added.

King Hussein said that the lifting of sanctions imposed on Iraq in 1990 after Iraqi army invaded Kuwait is in the interest of all.

Regarding Arab states' attitudes toward Jordan and Turkey's stand during the latest crisis between Iraqi government and UN, the king said, "All Arab leaders are satisfied with Ankara's position during the crisis." He said, "they are also satisfied with bilateral relations between Turkey and Jordan."

Jordan's contacts with Turkish leadership contributed to formulating Turkey's position during the crisis, he told reporters in Abu Dhabi.

The king said the main point in the Iraqi crisis was," the full implementation of what was agreed upon between Tariq Aziz and Kofi Annan."

Concerning Iraq, "I can't say that I have been instructed to achieve any mission," he said. "The only resolution they have had since post Gulf War in 1991 is their desire to make direct dialogue with other states , particularly the USA," he said, "They do not want the dialogue to be done via mediators."

"To face all those repeated crises, one may ask," the king said, "why should such a dialogue not take place?"