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Submitted by ctv_en_2 on Tue, 07/11/2006 - 15:30
A two-day regional conference on security in Iraq closed in the Iranian capital Tehran on July 9 with the participation of foreign ministers from Iraq’s neighbouring Arab countries. At the conference, they committed to helping Iraq stabilise the national security. However, their conditional support for Iraq has become a matter of great concern to the United States.

Despite a history of conflict, tentative co-operation, and religious and ethnic complexities, neighbouring Arab countries play an important role in maintaining security in Iraq. For its part, Iraq has more than once called for support from “its Islamic neighbours”. Most recently, after he was sworn in, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki visited Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait to gather support from three Gulf countries.

 

Of course, support from Arab countries is conditional. As there is a large segment of Sunni living in Arab countries, the leaders of three Gulf countries asked Iraqi authorities to secure Sunni interests. They openly declared that they would only support the new government in Iraq if Mr Maliki helped Sunni Muslims. Iraq even had to meet other requirements of its neighbours, including approval of the national reconciliation plan which provides favourable conditions for the Sunni and allows the release of many Sunni prisoners from Abu Ghraib prison.

 

The US previously hoped to win support from Iraq’s neighbours, especially Saudi Arabia - a powerful and rich country in the region. However, the offer of support from Iraq’s neighbours this time was not good news to the US as President George Bush was still concerned about the increasing interference of Arab countries which might weaken the Iraqi government. The concern is not groundless, as the regional security conference on the Iraqi issue became an anti-US forum. Many Arab countries criticised the US for saying they were lending a helping hand to insurgents operating in Iraq. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called for a halt to the influx of insurgents into Iraq, stating that terrorism in Iraq will only force the US and its allies to remain longer in the country.

 

While US-allied countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Kuwait, did not show much interest in Iraq as the US expected, Iran and Syria - the two countries Bush regarded as part of the “axis of evil” - announced that they would support Iraq. Syria said it will establish security relations with Iraq while Iranian President Amadineja proposed a tripartite alliance composed of Iraq, Iran and Syria.

 

The US has become increasingly concerned about its deteriorating relations with the Iraqi Government of Prime Minister Maliki, particularly after US soldiers raped and killed a woman and her three family members in Mamudiya. The case has caused a strong wave of protest among the Iraqi community. After his tour of three Gulf countries, Iraq Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has demanded reconsidering the right of exemption from prosecution granted to foreign soldiers, and suggested there should be measures for Iraqi people to engage in investigating the case.

 

Though neighbouring countries are strongly committed to supporting Iraq, no one knows for sure if their commitment will be effective soon. This is not the first time they have paid lip service to Iraq.

According to analysts, the main obstacle is the presence of the US-led coalition forces in Iraq. Moreover, there have been some disputes between Iraq and neighbouring countries, after Saddam Hussein’s wife and eldest daughter who are staying in Jordan and Qatar were identified among 41 people on the Iraqi government’s most wanted list. Surely, it will take a long time to build trust-based relations between Iraq and neighbouring countries.

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