CAIRO, 9 September 2003 — Newly-appointed Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, in a news conference in Cairo, expressed optimism yesterday that his country will be reintegrated into the Arab League.
His visit to Egypt came ahead of today’s meeting of Arab foreign ministers that was expected to be dominated by the issue of Iraq.
“We are here to participate in the meeting of the foreign ministers,” Zebari declared, even as Arab League officials continued to deflect questions about Iraq’s participation.
Arab countries are divided over whether or not to allow the Iraqi delegation to occupy Iraq’s seat at the Cairo-based Arab League, which has remained empty since the fall of Saddam Hussein.
The Iraqi minister said that he and others had been in contact with a number of Arab countries regarding the issue and decided to come after receiving “positive” and “encouraging” responses.
“It’s a legitimate right for Iraq to occupy its seat (at the Arab League),” the Iraqi minister asserted, adding that “it’s very important for us.”
He pointed out that he and members of his delegation came to Cairo as “representatives of the de facto Iraqi government,” referring to the interim governing council appointed by United States civil administrator in Iraq Paul Bremer.
Zebari said that one of the aims of the visit was to mobilize Arab “support” and “assistance” for the Iraqi people, as they go about rebuilding their country.
It was not in the interest of the Arab League to isolate Iraq, according to Zebari.
He said the “the new Iraq” wished to establish strong ties with Arab and neighboring countries, but warned against interference in Iraq’s internal affairs.
The Iraqi minister also hinted that his country would welcome any contribution by Arab countries to an international peacekeeping force in Iraq. He made it clear, however, that forces from neighboring countries would not be welcome.
“We prefer that neighboring countries do not participate,” said Zebari, the first Kurd to serve as foreign minister in modern-day Iraq.
Arab reporters also questioned Zebari about his ethnic background, fearing he might be persuaded to use his new position to further the Kurdish cause. “It’s a great honor for me to represent my country Iraq,” he responded.
“I represent the Iraqi people and not the Kurds or any other ethnic group,” he added.
In Kirkuk menawhile, dozens of Kurds lobbed rocks at US soldiers overnight as the occupiers removed Kurdish flags in the northern oil city, Kurdish sources and an AFP correspondent reported yesterday.
Trouble erupted in the Shursha Kurdish quarter on the eastern side of Kirkuk where roads were blocked and fires started by the protesters.
On the west side in the Kurdish quarter of Zhimawa, youngsters raised the Kurdish flag - two crossed palm branches on a white background - after clashes with US troops.
The Kurdish flag flies in areas of northern Iraq which escaped the control of the ousted regime of Saddam Hussein in the aftermath of the 1991 Gulf war.
Kirkuk was calm yesterday and local authorities were talking to representatives of the various ethnic groups to prevent further violence, the correspondent said.
The Kurdish sources said American soldiers began taking down the flags at the request of the Arab and Turkmen communities who asked that the Iraqi national flag alone fly over Kirkuk, which also shelters a Christian minority.
