U.S. Asks Arab States To Participate In Potential Peacekeeping Force

     Al-Hayat      2003/08/28

Baghdad, Amman, Beirut, Cairo, London

Through its tour to the Gulf, Egypt and other member states of the Arab League, the delegation representing the Iraqi transitional ruling council managed to impose itself at an official level. A source from the Arab League announced that a representative of the council might participate in the next meeting of Arab Foreign Ministers in Cairo, while Oman, Jordan and the Emirates have confirmed their recognition of the council. Furthermore, the head of the council confirmed that he has requested that Iraq be accepted in the Gulf Cooperation Council.

As part of its efforts to muster Arab support for its policy in Baghdad, the U.S. has asked Lebanon and other countries neighboring Iraq to send military forces to ensure security and stability and to officially recognize the ruling council.

Meanwhile, two U.S. soldiers and two Iraqis were killed in separate attacks by the resistance. Washington said it was examining the possibility of forming a UN peacekeeping force in Iraq, provided it falls under U.S. authority. The U.S. army has been putting up pictures in Baghdad and other cities of the toppled President Saddam Hussein and his two sons Udai and Qusai, to remind the people that he is still wanted, dead or alive, and that the reward for his capture is $25 million.

The Arab countries welcomed to a limited extent the council's delegation, during its tour to seven Arab states, but have failed to officially recognize it. AFP reported Arab League sources saying that a representative of the council or the incoming Iraqi Foreign Minister might participate in the next Foreign Ministers' meeting, which will be held on September 9 and 10 in Cairo, but only during the sessions addressing Iraq. In a statement to the Iraqi television, Jaafari said he was pleased with the results of the tour, because he "found that the leaders have a thorough understanding of the situation in Iraq, and are optimistic about its future." He added that they were intent on seeing Iraq gain a primary position in the region, enjoying security and economic development. But it is worthy to note that the Arab leaders, who received the Iraqi delegation, have been cautious on avoiding any sign of official recognition.

For instance, the Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Maher and the Arab League Secretary General avoided appearing next to Jaafari, during the press conference held in Cairo. Maher also avoided questions about Egypt's recognition of the council. Arab diplomats believe that most Gulf countries, as well as Jordan, are more likely to recognize the council than the rest of the Arab states, particularly Egypt. The Omani delegate to the Arab League Abdulaziz Hanai announced yesterday that his country wasn't opposed to the participation of the ruling council in the coming Arab League meetings.

Moreover, the Jordanian Information Minister informed Al-Hayat that Amman is ready to cooperate with the ruling council in Iraq, because it fills the political vacuum in Iraq and represents the Iraqi political parties. He asserted that Ahmad Chalabi's appointment as president of the council will not affect their relation with Iraq, as they deal with a state and a people, he explained. It is worth noting that Chalabi is wanted in Jordan in a case of financial corruption, and the opposition asked last week that he be tried.

In Beirut, U.S. ambassador Vincent Battle said that the U.S. has asked Lebanon to cooperate with the transitional ruling council, to receive its representatives and to work with the Iraqi Foreign Ministry. Following a meeting with the director of political affairs at the Foreign Ministry Naji Abi Assi, Battle added that they have asked Lebanon to participate in the peacekeeping force, and in case it fails to participate at a military level, they asked it to support publicly the international efforts made to foster stability.

In Washington, Vice Secretary of State Richard Armitage said that the U.S. was examining the possibility of deploying a multinational force in Iraq, under the auspices of the UN, with the condition that it falls under American authority. Armitage told representatives of three of the U.S. press unions that the U.S. is considering establishing a multinational force, headed by an American. He explained that this was one of the suggestions being examined by UN diplomats, as the U.S. is trying to encourage foreign forces to deploy in Iraq, in order to strengthen the UN's role.

On the ground, four attacks carried out yesterday resulted in the death of two U.S. soldiers. The U.S. forces captured around 30 people in 24 hours, in raid campaigns in Northern Baghdad. A U.S. military spokesman announced that a U.S. soldier was killed and three others were injured in a mine explosion in Fallujah, around 60 km west of Baghdad. Another soldier was also killed in an attack on a military convoy in the Iraqi capital.