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Iraqi president Talabani laments absence
of Arab support
25.5.2006
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BAGHDAD (AFP) -
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani publicly rebuked Arab
countries for failing to send any delegation to
congratulate Baghdad on the formation of its first
post-invasion permanent government.
In a press conference following a meeting with
Randall Tobias, director of US foreign assistance,
Talabani related a phone call he had with Secretary
General of the Arab League Amr Mussa.
"I said to Amr Mussa that it is not conceivable that
the British prime minister and the Iranian foreign
minister come to Iraq to present their
congratulations on the formation of a new government
and the Arabs haven't," he said.
"There needs to be more Arab interest in Iraq,"
Talabani added, saying that he had asked Mussa why
no delegation had been sent.
On Saturday, Iraqi politicians finally agreed on
their first permanent post-invasion government after
five months of negotiations -- an event that
prompted the visits of both the British and Danish
prime ministers. |
Iraqi
President : Jalal Talabani, a Kurd
Photo: Military |
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki is
expected to visit Iraq on Friday.
Relations between Iraq and the other Arab countries
have been strained since the US-led invasion that
was largely opposed by the governments of the
region.
Most have only grudgingly improved relations with
what many originally characterized as a puppet
government.
Concern over relations with neighboring Arab
governments was such that the new Iraq government
has created a special post to deal with them,
minister of state for foreign affairs, held by a
Sunni Arab.
Like the president, Iraq's current foreign minister
is a Kurd.
AFP
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