'Gates of hell' open in Iraq
From correspondents in Cairo, Egypt
September 15, 2004
ARAB foreign ministers called today for their nations to fully restore diplomatic relations with Iraq, but avoided the sensitive question of whether to send in Arab troops to help secure the country.
A statement by the ministers after 10 hours of meetings also condemned kidnappings in Iraq and terror attacks on Iraqi forces as well as civilians. And it condemned aerial and military operations "that target Iraqi civilians in the different Iraqi cities and villages and cause the death of numerous innocent civilians" - a criticism of American air strikes. It called for such operations to end.
The statement never mentioned the possibility of sending Arab troops into Iraq. Arab governments individually have opposed the idea of sending their troops to Iraq, citing security concerns, the temptations their own political agendas would create and the interim nature of Iraq's US-backed government.
Rather, the ministers said today that Arab countries will "offer help to the Iraqi government in training and preparing Iraqi cadres in different domains, including training police, armed forces and offering necessary equipment".
Egypt and Jordan already have committed themselves to helping train Iraqi police and soldiers. But on Sunday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit reiterated his country's position regarding committing troops.
"Our decision is clear. We will not send troops in the current circumstances, because the situation is unstable. We can't fire at the sons of the Iraqi people, and we can't accept our sons being fired at," he said.
Overnight, Arab League chief Amr Moussa urged the ministers to make the right decisions regarding Iraq, warning "the gates of hell are open in Iraq and the situation is getting more complicated and tense".
"We have to help Iraq to overcome this crisis and move events in a positive direction that could help Iraq regain its full sovereignty, fortify its unity, end the occupation and rebuild its institutions according to its free will and sovereign rights as a member state of the League," Mr Moussa said.
The ministers' statement took one conclusive step Iraq had been awaiting.
Ministers said they were "reaffirming the importance of an Arab presence in Iraq, including the restoration of diplomatic relations with Iraq to their normal level, in support for the political efforts the interim government has exerted".
Iraq's interim government announced in July the appointment of 40 ambassadors abroad in an attempt to re-engage the world.
Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said on Monday a new ambassador to Egypt will present her credentials soon.
A newly appointed Iraqi ambassador to Jordan presented his credentials last week to King Abdullah II.
Arab countries have yet to reciprocate the moves. No Iraqi ambassadors have yet been nominated to Kuwait or Saudi Arabia.
Past resolutions by Arab foreign ministers concerning Iraq were limited to expressing support for Iraq's territorial integrity and sovereignty as well as condemning terrorist acts against civilians.
The overnight statement repeated those issues, and included a condemnation of terror attacks that was slightly broader, including attacks on Iraqi forces.
The ministers condemned "all acts of terrorism in Iraq that target civilians, Iraqi security and police, humanitarian and religious organisations, and acts of kidnapping carried out by terrorist organisations, especially the kidnapping of civilians working for Arab and foreign companies that help in reconstructing Iraq, and those working in international and humanitarian organisations ... as well as diplomats and journalists".
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