“There will be no preconditions for this initiative either from Saudi Arabia or other countries,” he told reporters. “We don’t have any reservation on any person heading Iraq’s government."
In his appeal on Saturday, King Abdullah said: “I invite his Excellency President Jalal Talabani ... and all parties that took part in the elections and the political process to your second country Saudi Arabia, to Riyadh, after the blessed Haj season (for a meeting).”
King Abdullah said the talks would be held under the auspices of the Arab League in order to seek solutions for all outstanding problems that stand in the way of forming a unity government in Baghdad, adding that it would be a good opportunity for reconciliation to restore Iraq’s security, peace and stability.
Former Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's Al-Iraqiya bloc welcomed the king’s call. Al-Iraqiya came ahead of Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki’s bloc 91 seats to 89 in the March 7 parliamentary elections. A number of other parties also announced their backing.
The National Alliance, a merger of Iraq's Shiite-led blocs, including that of Al-Maliki's coalition, appreciated the king’s initiative but expressed its confidence that Iraqi political leaders could reach a consensus on forming the government.
“We are confident the representatives of the Iraqi people are able ... to reach a deal to form a national partnership government," said legislator Hassan Al-Sunaid, reading from a statement that he said came from the Shiite National Alliance. “Though we express our appreciation to Saudi Arabia for its concern about the situation in Iraq and its willingness to provide support, we would like to confirm Iraqi leaders are continuing ... their meetings to reach a national consensus."
Al-Sunaid, a senior member of Al-Maliki's bloc, said the statement was supported by the Kurdish Alliance, which has 57 seats in Parliament and is being wooed by Al-Maliki's camp to form a coalition government. The Kurdish bloc was not immediately available for comment.
At the Riyadh news conference, Prince Saud commended the initiative of Masoud Barazani, president of Iraqi Kurdistan Region. “King Abdullah hopes that the talks of all Iraqi leaders at the initiative of Barazani would reach positive results and take Iraq out of its political crisis,” the prince said.
He emphasized the fact that the Iraqi leaders would meet in Riyadh to take appropriate decisions at their free will without any outside pressure.
“The initiative comes as a backing to the free will of Iraqi leaders and people to see the most suitable way to determine Iraq’s political future,” the foreign minister said.
He said Saudi Arabia would support any solution that satisfies all parties.
“Saudi Arabia urges everybody who cares for the security, stability, unity and welfare of Iraq to support the Iraqi brothers in their endeavor to find a solution to the political crisis,” he said.
Prince Saud said King Abdullah has not fixed any date for the talks. “If there is any meeting it will be after the Haj,” he said. “The core point is the determination of the Iraqis. If the Iraqis reject any initiative it will be a decisive factor. But our Iraqi brethren were asking where is the Arab initiative. The Arab initiative is now in front of them.”
He said the talks would be fully controlled by the Iraqis. “If they seek any assistance from Saudi Arabia we’ll do that,” he said, adding that there would not be any international presence.
Asked whether the Kingdom would agree if the Iraqis support Al-Maliki, he said: “The choice is for the Iraqis. We don’t have any objection to any person they select. We’ll go with the desire of the Iraqis and we don’t have any reservations in this respect.”
He said there is no conflict between the initiatives of King Abdullah and Barazani. “The Iraqi initiative seeks to reach a solution to form a government acceptable to all and this what the Kingdom wants.” He added that the opening of the Saudi embassy in Baghdad was delayed because of security reasons.
The 23-member Arab League and the 57-member Organization of the Islamic Conference have welcomed King Abdullah’s unity call and hoped it would contribute to salvaging Iraq from its present political deadlock.
“I have received a number of calls from the Iraqi side regarding the Saudi invitation and I will continue my contacts in this respect,” said Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa.
