DAMASCUS, 22 December 2003 — Iraq’s interim government will seek a security agreement with Syria to stop cross-border terror operations, the head of the US-appointed Governing Council Abdel Aziz Hakim said yesterday after meeting here with Syrian President Bashar Assad.
“We are looking, through the intermediary of the Iraqi interior minister, to sign agreements” for security with Syria, Hakim told reporters in Damascus. “Cooperation on security is necessary to stop terror operations in Iraq and block the illegal infiltration of men” across the Syrian-Iraqi border, Hakim said.
“Syria will cooperate” on security issues because Damascus “wants neither an unstable Iraq nor terrorist operations in that country.”
Hakim blamed “internal Iraqi resistance” to US forces on “terrorist groups who murder Iraqis and steal their wealth.”
“The operations of these groups target the interests of the Iraqi people and could prolong the occupation of Iraq,” he said.
Hakim also came out “in favor of a federal Iraq”, saying the issue was “being looked at, but it will be the people of Iraq who decide. “Only the Iraqi people can define the form and nature of the federalism” they wish to see in their country, he said.
Fallen dictator Saddam Hussein, who was captured by US forces on Dec. 13, “will be tried by an Iraqi court” for his crimes, Hakim said, adding that the tyrant had “killed more than 63 people” in his own family. “The hands of Saddam and his supporters are stained with the blood of Iraqis,” he said, describing his talks with Assad as “frank and constructive”.
The two leaders plan to meet again he said, adding that Syria had “an important role to play in the reconstruction of a new Iraq”, its security and economy.”
“Ending the occupation of Iraq is one of the main objectives” of the interim council, he said. Hakim, who arrived in Syria on Saturday night, was due to leave for Moscow.
