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Politics : Idea Of The Day -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: IQBAL LATIF who wrote (44560)	9/9/2003 3:51:06 PM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50167

Iraq Council Wins Diplomatic Coup at Arab League Tue September 9, 2003 03:30 PM ET By Mohamed Abdellah CAIRO (Reuters) - Iraq's U.S.-appointed Governing Council took a step toward international legitimacy on Tuesday when its delegate took up Iraq's vacant seat at an Arab League ministerial meeting. A landmark decision by Arab foreign ministers to let the delegate join their talks, taken early on Tuesday after hours of debate, was a diplomatic victory for the Council that could help determine if it will be allowed to fill Iraq's seat in other bodies like the United Nations and oil cartel OPEC. In a highly symbolic move, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, a Kurd newly appointed by the Governing Council, sat down in Iraq's chair at the ministerial meeting of the 22-member Cairo-based League. "This (Iraqi) government says: 'I want to be rid of occupation, I want to underline the sovereignty of the Iraqi people, I want to put in place a constitution and government'," Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said. "We say to it: 'We believe you and we accept that you sit with us on this basis'," he told reporters, adding that Arab states did not want Iraq to be isolated from the Arab world. Maher had earlier said the Iraqi people needed to receive greater powers and the United Nations had to gain a pivotal role in building Iraq's political structure. The consensus agreement was a victory for more moderate Arab states over hard-liners in the League. Analysts had said some states would try to deny Zebari access, and perhaps only grant him observer status, to avoid legitimizing the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq and the unelected Council. SPLITTING HAIRS But analysts said more moderate states, including a number of U.S. allies, wanted to have the Council represented in the League to ensure Iraq was embedded in the Arab fold and that Arabs could influence the country's future. Zebari told the opening session of the meeting: "The Governing Council has no intention to abandon the Arab nation and we will cooperate with you in all fields." The decision to let the Council delegate take up Iraq's seat is only valid until the formation of an elected Iraqi government, and will be reviewed accordingly at each Arab ministerial meeting. Arab states have previously called the Council a step in the right direction, but have been loath to endorse the body fully for fear they would seem to be backing the occupation of Iraq. "Recognition of the Governing Council has not taken place... all that has happened is the acceptance of representation of Iraq in the League," Jordan's Foreign Minister Marwan al-Muasher told Egypt's official MENA news agency. Some analysts say Arab states are splitting hairs, and the Council's participation at the League will be seen as de facto recognition, whatever political spin Arab governments put on it. "This is really a very strong recognition of the Governing Council," said Egyptian political analyst Mohamed al Sayid Said. "This step is not very popular in the Arab world," he said, but added he did not expect strong public opposition. Political scientist Walid Kozziha said: "Arab public opinion is certainly not happy to see something like this happening."