 |
|
Arab
ministers “welcomed Iraq’s acceptance” of U.N. resolution:
Faisal
|
CAIRO,
November 10 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Saudi Foreign Minister
Prince Saud Al-Faisal said after an Arab League foreign ministers
meeting in Cairo late Saturday, November 9, that Baghdad had accepted
the U.N. resolution after it obtained assurances from U.N. Security
Council member Syria it does not foresee automatic recourse to military
action.
“The
Arab ministers welcomed Iraq’s acceptance of Resolution 1441,
following assurances from Syria that this resolution does not provide
for automatic military action (against Baghdad),” Al-Faisal told
reporters in Cairo, after the end of the meeting, reported Agence
France-Presse (AFP) Sunday, November 10.
The
foreign ministers of the 22-member Arab League were meeting to debate
the United Nations’ new resolution 1441 that was adopted unanimously
on Friday, November 8, by the 15-member U.N. Security Council, including
sole Arab member Syria.
Separately,
however, Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri at a meeting with his Syrian
counterpart Faruq al-Shara, said Baghdad was still “studying the
resolution,” and added that Iraq had still “not announced its
position.”
“Iraq
has not issued a decision,” Sabri added.
On
his part, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher cited “statements at
the highest level in Baghdad on the readiness to cooperate with any
resolution which carries assurances that it does not foresee a military
strike.”
|
| “No
decision has been taken,” says Sabri
|
“I
think we can expect a positive position by the Iraqis,” Maher said.
Egypt
has already pledged to keep lobbying Iraq to comply with the Security
Council.
Shara,
on his part, said Syria voted for the resolution after receiving
assurances it would not be a green light for a U.S.-led strike on
Baghdad.
“In
no provision of this resolution is there anything that allows countries
to take unilateral action,” Syria’s Deputy Ambassador to the United
Nations, Faisal Mekdad, told the BBC.
State
radio in Damascus reported Saturday that Syria voted in favor of the
resolution only to avoid a U.S. military strike on Baghdad, which would
benefit Israel.
Lebanese
Foreign Minister Mahmud Hammud said the meeting was taking place because
events required a position emphasizing Arab solidarity.
Jordan
has also backed a diplomatic solution to the crisis, and described the
U.N. resolution as a positive development.
Arab
foreign ministers are in Cairo for an Arab League summit, to be
dominated by discussion on the new U.N. Security Council resolution on
Iraq.
Arab
officials are making it clear they want Iraq to comply fully with the
resolution in order to avert a U.S.-led attack, said the BBC on its web
site.
The
new measure imposes a stringent arms inspection regime on Baghdad and
warns of “serious consequences" if it does not disarm.
It
gives Iraq until November 15 to accept the text.
