Laurent Lozano
Agence France Presse (AFP)
2 December 2004
TEHRAN: A conference on security in Iraq ended in Tehran on Wednesday with Baghdad and neighboring governments barely managing to overcome differences and issue a collective call for greater cooperation against insurgents.
But the two-day conference of interior ministers from Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Syria, Turkey, Jordan and Egypt resulted in few concrete proposals, after Tehran and Baghdad traded recriminations over who exactly was responsible for the persistent violence.
The final statement, long on declarations of good intention but short on firm promises of action, "stressed the sovereignty, political independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Iraq as well as the right of the people of Iraq to a secure and stable life."
Ministers also "expressed their readiness to assist in the electoral process," due to culminate in key national elections scheduled for Jan. 30.
On border security, a topic that dogged the meeting amid allegations from Iraq and the United States that Iran has been allowing foreign fighters to cross into Iraq, the statement only "stressed the need for the enhancement of mutual cooperation."
It also said conference participants "supported the fight against the illegal movement of capital supporting the terrorist activities" as well as the "smuggling of goods, arms and narcotic drugs."
And while the statement "condemned terrorist acts," it also condemned "sacrilege of the religious holy places in Iraq" - an apparent concession to Iran's anger at U.S.-led attacks on Shiite rebels in the shrine cities of Najaf and Karbala.
The participants also "stressed the need for the exchange of information intelligence with an aim to control and prevent the movement of terrorists."
Sources close to the talks acknowledged there were "difficulties" agreeing on a final text, and the ministers chose not to hold a formal news conference.
Baghdad and Tehran have traded ongoing, bitter recriminations over who exactly was responsible for the persistent violence. Iraq's interim government has blamed foreign fighters who have infiltrated its borders, while Iran blames the continued presence of US and other foreign troops.
"I hope it's a good start for restoring security and stability in the region," was the only brief comment from Iraq's interim Interior Minister Falah Hasan al-Naqib after the talks.
Iran's Interior Minister Abdolvahed Moussavi-Lari described the meeting as "a good conference that took into account our points of view and those of the others."
"We have shown the entire world that if there is a country that is seeking stability in Iraq, it is Iran," he added, capping what analysts have seen as more of a public relations exercise on the part of Tehran. Iran proposed the Tehran meeting at an international conference held in Egypt last week to rally support for Iraq's election.
Moussavi-Lari also said that despite Iraqi concerns of infiltrations, "I insisted on the fact that the presence of foreign forces in Iraq is the source of instability." Iran's only concrete offer of help to Baghdad to train and equip police and border guards - was quickly rejected by Iraq.
But in turn, Iraqi officials have come under fire from Tehran over the continued presence on their soil of the armed Iranian opposition group, the People's Mujahideen.
The Mujahideen, who seek to overthrow Iran's ruling clerics, sought refuge in Iraq in 1986 and sided with former president Saddam Hussein during the eight-year Iran-Iraq war.
They are now confined to a camp northeast of Baghdad, which Tehran sees as tantamount to US protection.
Despite the obvious gulf between the delegates - an uncomfortable mix of US allies and foes - a diplomatic source put on a brave face and described the closed-door meetings as "not as bad as they could have been."
And according to the statement, the ministers did agree to meet again later in Turkey.
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Citation:
Laurent Lozano, "Iraq security talks plagued with differences", Agence France Presse, 02 December 2004.
Original URL:
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.aspedition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=10615#