"The
United Nations should have a central role not only in humanitarian and
economic issues but also in building post-war Iraq," Saudi Foreign
Minister Prince Saud el-Faisal said at the opening of the meeting, also
attended by the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran, Syria,
Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt and Bahrain said.
He
called for the U.S. forces to withdraw as soon as possible and swiftly
set up a transitional government "to be followed by a broad-based
constitutional Iraqi government."
"We
cannot accept a military government. There is an occupying authority
which has responsibilities... But for there to be a military government,
this is something I don't think anyone will accept," Egyptian
Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher told reporters during break in the talks.
The
attendants agreed "on the need to uphold Iraq's unity, sovereignty
and territorial integrity," the Egyptian chief diplomat said.
This,
he asserted, requires the withdrawal of foreign forces in order to
enable the Iraqi people to choose their government in full freedom.
No
Threats
 |
|
"We
cannot accept a military government. There is an occupying
authority which has responsibilities," said Maher
|
The
foreign ministers joined hands in criticizing the U.S. threats against
Syria.
"We
absolutely refuse the recent threat against Syria which can only
increase the likelihood of a new circle of war and hatred, especially in
light of the continuing deterioration of the Palestinian
situation," Prince Saud said.
"We
call on the United States to use dialogue with Syria and to activate the
(Middle East) peace process," he added, welcoming a possible visit
to Syria by Secretary of State Colin Powell.
Syria
suffered a volley of scathing criticism from Washington for allegedly
sheltering Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s aides and developing
chemical weapons - both charged categorically repudiated by Damascus.
Different
Readings
But
the regional forum did not shy of differences, expected among countries
some of which provided military facilities for the U.S.-led aggression
on Iraq.
"There
could be divergent analyses (of the situation)," the Egyptian
foreign minister said without elaborating.
He
added that the meeting, "which had been due to extend into
Saturday, will go on in the evening due to the commitments of some
ministers who must leave Riyadh" overnight.
An
Arab diplomat had earlier told AFP that minor differences among
participants were liable to prolong the conference into Saturday, April
19.
The
differences relate to the status of the Kurds in the north, Turkish
demands on oil from the city of Kirkuk and the identity of certain
figures tipped to become members of a future Iraqi government, the
diplomat said.
"We
call on the occupying authority, which we hope will withdraw from Iraq
as soon as possible, to quickly put in place an interim government with
a view to putting in place a constitutional government," Prince
Saud said.
He
underlined that the occupation forces were bound by the Geneva
Conventions to ensure "security, stability, the safeguard of Iraq's
popular and historic heritage and the restitution of stolen
archeological items."
Iraq's
national museum, which housed a major collection of artifacts from early
Mesopotamian civilizations, was ransacked a week ago in the upheaval
following U.S. troops' takeover of Baghdad.
A
number of other countries apparently have raised some objections about
Iraqi opposition figures tipped to be given sensitive jobs in a future
Iraqi government.
There
are also some differences over whether the neighbors should deal with a
U.S. military ruler.
Maher
said after arrival in Riyadh that his country rejects the presence of a
U.S. military government in Iraq and would only deal with a government
that reflected the free will of the Iraqi people.
