US pressure on Damascus Declaration states concerning Iraq

Qatar's foreign minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jaber al-Thani on Friday night talked about American pressures against the countries of the Damascus declaration signatory states ( Syria, Egypt and the 6 Gulf GCC member states) concerning Iraq.

Sheikh Hamad said, replying to a question by the al-Jazira TV of Qatar whether the Americans made pressures on the countries of the Damascus declaration during their meeting on November 12 in Doha, that " these pressures existed but can not undermine our principles if we ourselves believe it is not right." He added that " the state of Qatar did not give as 'they' claimed a license for attacking Iraq or holding Iraq responsible, but we tried to make our brothers in Iraq understand the consequences of the situation at that time and to avert Iraq a military strike."

Replying to another question if he intended that the Americans exploited the statement released by the Damascus Declaration on their recent meeting, Sheikh Hamad said " I may understand that they (the American) indicated to the warning advocated in the meeting of the Declaration's states and this warning was explained "by others" as a license to strike Iraq." He went on " I do not think that the countries of the Damascus declaration, and at least Qatar, would give the permission for striking a brotherly country."

However, foreign ministers of the Gulf Co-operation Council GCC, Egypt and Syria released a statements following a two day deliberations in which they held the Iraqi government responsible for deterioration that may result from Iraq's suspension of its cooperation with UNSCOM.