WordType Designs™
Driven To Distractions©
The Sound of One Hand Clapping©

A rchive Date
[ 13-10-2003 ]
Category
[ International Relations ]
sub-Categoy
[ Malaysia ]
      [http://www.msnbc.com/news/979060.asp?0bl=-0

      Islamic states to welcome new Iraq
      But status of post-Saddam government still disagreed upon
      ASSOCIATED PRESS

      PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia Oct. 12 -  Foreign ministers arriving Sunday at the world’s biggest meeting of Islamic states prepared to welcome Iraq’s new government - at arm’s length - and confer another layer of legitimacy to the U.S.-picked body.

      THE MINISTERS, representing the 57 member states of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, arrived as lower-ranking officials from their countries put the final touches on agendas for ministerial meetings Monday and Tuesday, to be followed by a full summit of national leaders Thursday and Friday.

      With the occupation of Iraq and threats to other countries reinforcing unease that the war on terrorism is turning into persecution of Muslims, officials said the ministers and leaders will discuss resolutions welcoming the Iraqi Governing Council and condemning Israel for last week’s airstrike against Syria.

      They will also hear host Malaysia, led by blunt-spoken Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, urge that the 34-year-old organization cast off a reputation as being little more than a talking shop and show more unity as a strong advocate of Muslim nations on the world stage.
             
      DISAGREEMENT WITHIN OIC
      The status of Iraq since Saddam Hussein was toppled six months ago had led to disagreement in the OIC, with summit host Malaysia contending that no Iraqi government should be seated with the country under U.S. occupation, and the powerful Arab bloc saying that the Governing Council is transitional and legitimate enough, for now.

      The Arab view prevailed, and Iraq will be represented by Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, a Kurd, and by Ayad Alawi, current holder of the council’s rotating leadership.

      Delegates said that a resolution would likely welcome the Governing Council but be balanced with calls for Iraq’s return to full independence and sovereignty and control over its own oil.

      The resolution “is more of a welcome and acknowledgment of the Governing Council and considering it as a step in the right direction,” said Musa Braiza, a senior official from Jordan. “I am not aware of any opposition.”

      A resolution condemning Israel for launching an airstrike in Syria - the first such attack in three decades - was also expected, Syrian officials said. Israel has claimed that the attack targeted a training camp used by Palestinian militants. Syria insists the camp closed years ago.
             
      PEACEKEEPER RESOLUTION UNLIKELY
      Delegates said that no resolution was likely on the issue of sending peacekeepers to Iraq, which has divided Turkey from the Governing Council and other states.

      Turkey, which once ruled much of the Arab world, has offered to send peacekeepers without waiting for Iraq to shift from control of the United States to the United Nations, a stumbling block for other Muslim countries demanding a U.N. mandate.

      The Governing Council has rejected peacekeepers from neighboring countries, fearing they could end up interfering in Iraq’s internal affairs and that Turkey’s long-running conflict with ethnic Kurdish insurgents could spill over to Kurdish areas of northern Iraq.

      The dispute has put the Governing Council on a collision course with its American overseers, who are desperate for foreign troops to relieve the burden on the 130,000 U.S. soldiers in Iraq.

      Malaysia’s Mahathir, a staunch opponent of the U.S. invasion, said in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corp. that persistent attacks on U.S. troops show they are unwelcome in Iraq.

      Mahathir, 77, who retires Oct. 31 after 22 years in power, said the current scenario in Iraq differed from that after World War II when U.S. troops who helped liberate Paris were showered with thanks.

      “But today, we don’t see that thing happening in Iraq,” Mahathir said.



      © 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

      World Fact Book (CIA)]



Some pages may require Adobe Acrobat Reader™


Copyright and Fair Use Information: The contents of this web site is protected by international copyright laws and may not be reproduced in any form or manner whatsoever, if for the purpose of resale or solicitation of a donation. The essays included here, may be reproduced only if: 1)They are not altered in any way; 2) reproductions must be accompanied by this copyright page ; and 3) it is given freely and without charge.
Fair use: The fair use of copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified in above sections, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is fair use the factors to be considered include : (1) the purpose and character of the use, including whether the use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes; (2) the nature of the copyrighted work; (3) the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole, and; (4) the effect of the use upon the potential market value of the copyrighted work.
Home | About Narrative? |Contact
Copyright © 2025. All Rights Reserved
HAG122125 (1998 -2026)