Iran Offers Billion Dollars in Aid for Iraq, Asked to Press Syria on Security

Excerpt from report by Ahmad Amin in Tehran entitled “Al-Rubay’i to Al-Ra’y Al-Amm: We hope the Syrians will stop the death coming from their country” published on Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Ra’y al-Amm website on 24 November

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani met the Iraqi expatriate community in Tehran and talked about developments in Iraq and the problems the Iraqi people are facing as a result of the accumulated problems left by the former regime. He noted the destruction of the infrastructure and the mass graves, “most of whose victims were Shi’i Arabs and Kurds”. He said that “Iraq’s huge debt is one of the grim legacies of the hateful defunct regime”.

Talabani, who concluded his visit to Tehran yesterday, noted the victory scored by the United Iraqi Alliance list and the Kurdistan Alliance list in the transitional National Assembly elections. He pointed out that “both lists have exerted strenuous efforts to persuade our Sunni Arab brothers to participate in the elections, noting that these efforts resulted in the election of a Sunni vice- president along with a number of Sunni cabinet ministers”.

Condemning the acts of terror targeting Iraqis, Talabani said: “It is a war of annihilation targeting the Iraqi people. The Arab and Muslim regimes and Muslim religious scholars should condemn these acts because the aim is to create disputes and kindle sedition among Muslims.”

Talabani ridiculed those Sunni Arabs who rejected federalism in southern Iraq, saying: “Previously, they said that Kurdish federalism would contribute to partitioning the country, but now they approve of federalism in the Kurdish region while they reject it in southern Iraq, alleging it would lead to partitioning the country.” He added: “Those Sunnis rejected a constitutional article stating that an Iraqi is one born to an Iraqi father or mother, saying it must not be said for an Iraqi mother, on the pretext that hundreds of thousands of Iranians would enter Iraq and get married to Iraqi women and a whole new generation of Iraqis would be born. In fact, more Iraqis have married Iranian women.”

Continuing his attack on the Sunni Arabs who rejected the constitution, Talabani said: “They gave preposterous reasons for rejecting other points in the constitution. In fact, they opposed the formation of a caretaker government and wanted a dictatorial central government. And they also rejected the principle of sharing resources. These Sunni brothers, who got used to a dictatorial rule, clung to their position which is unacceptable. Consequently, some of them departed the Sunni mainstream.”

Praising Shi’i Arabs, Talabani said: “I declare before you that our Shi’i Arab brothers displayed extraordinary flexibility and made numerous concessions in order to reach a comprehensive solution between us and the Sunni Arab brothers. However, the misguided faction did not accept these concessions and ignored the flexibility the Shi’is displayed. As a result, 10 or more million Iraqis participated in the elections and about 70 per cent of them voted in favour of the constitution.”

Talabani highlighted “the achievements made in Iraq, notwithstanding the acts of terror”. He urged effective participation in the forthcoming parliamentary elections by Iraqi expatriates, who, he said, will determine the future of the country and help form a permanent government to implement the constitution. [Passage omitted]

Talabani pointed out that the Islamic Republic of Iran pledged to offer a 1bn-dollar loan to Iraq in addition to 10 million dollars in aid towards reconstruction and restoration of security. Talabani and his delegating left Tehran yesterday for Baghdad after meetings and expanded talks that ended with the signing of memoranda of understanding in various economic fields. The Iraqi and Iranian officials underlined determination to activate the previous memoranda of understanding in the fields of security, trade and religious tourism.

In a statement to Al-Ra’y Al-Amm, Iraqi National Security Adviser Muwaffaq al-Rubay’i discussed the Iranian mediation efforts to persuade Syria to control its border with Iraq. He said: “We hope that the Iranian brothers will pressure the Syrians to stop the bloodshed in Iraq, which comes from across the Syrian border. We are not in a state of hostility with Syria and we do not want or intend to become part of the international campaign and agenda to overthrow the Syrian regime. It is not in our interest to overthrow this regime and all we hope for is that Syria will stop death coming from their country. Do you know that nine out of 10 of the terrorists who enter Iraq come from the Syrian territory? Do you know that the suicide bomber who killed Muhammad Baqir al-Hakim, the martyr of the holy temple, was trained in Syria? Do you know that 82 per cent of the foreigners who arrive in Iraq come across the Syrian border? The Syrians give them passports, documents and ID cards. They give them facilities, train them, provide them with weapons and explosives and send them to Iraq.”

Asked if he means that these measures take place officially under direct government supervision, Al-Rubay’i said: “Certainly under official supervision, we have no doubt about that. There is an official decision to neglect the border and show leniency to terrorists. Come on, do you think the Syrian intelligence is not aware of those who arrive at Damascus airport? Three Sudanese nationals (he did not finish the sentence). In fact, the Syrians are not doing what they should to close their side of the border.”

Asked about the identity of the armed men with whom Talabani expressed readiness to talk, Al-Rubay’i said: “There will be no dialogue with leading members of the Ba’th Party, particularly those known for their crimes against the Iraqi people. On 9 April 2003, the Saddamist Ba’th Party transformed from a political party into a terrorist organization carrying weapons and trying to achieve political goals through violence. There will be no dialogue with the Ba’th Party leaders, the takfiris [those who regard other Muslims as apostates], Al-Zarqawi’s followers and the Al-Qa’idah groups, who are bent on killing Iraqis.”

In reply to a question on his views on the future of the border issues with Kuwait, Al-Rubay’i said: “I think this issue is not on the table at present. It is not discussed in the domestic departments or the in the media. Our ties with Kuwait are strategic and very important. The Kuwaiti government and people support the new Iraq. Our Kuwaiti brothers backed Iraq to liberate itself from the dictatorship. Our relations with the Kuwaiti government and people are very good.”

Barham Salih, minister of planning, development and cooperation, told Al-Ra’y Al-Amm that the Iraqi and Iranian delegations discussed the issue of infiltration of armed men across the Syrian border. He said: “Syria’s stand and its indifference to Iraq’s security interests pain us. We are interested in Syria’s support and friendship and we want Syria to find a friend and supporter in Iraq. We as the Iraqi government cannot possibly accept or keep silent when it comes to the Syrian government’s lack of seriousness in dealing with the security issue and the infiltration of terrorists across the Syrian border, which cause the death of innocent Iraqis. This attitude will have serious consequences for Syria.”