King Abdullah to host Iraq talks

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah. (SPA)
By ARAB NEWS
Published: Oct 31, 2010 00:23 Updated: Oct 31, 2010 00:23
JEDDAH: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah on Saturday invited Iraq's political parties for talks in Saudi Arabia after Haj in an attempt to break a political deadlock and help them form a unity government in the war-torn country.
“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,” King Abdullah said in his appeal to Iraqi leaders.
He 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, which came in the March 7 parliamentary elections ahead of Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki’s bloc 91 seats to 89, welcomed the Saudi king’s call.
The call was perceived as an attempt to revive the Arab role in helping Iraq overcome a protracted political crisis that threatens to worsen sectarian tensions in the country. “Some countries have exploited in a gruesome way the absence of an Arab role in resolving Iraq’s political gridlock,” former Jordanian Minister of Information Saleh Al-Gallab told Al Arabiya television channel.
“We are inviting you from the birth place of Islam,” the king said, addressing all Iraqi factions, adding that the call was aimed at achieving stability in the Arab and Islamic world. He emphasized the need for making sacrifices to achieve unity, security and progress.
King Abdullah highlighted Iraq’s important position in the Arab and Islamic world. “You are a nation of history and civilization, of chivalry and pride, and of human wealth that no one can ignore,” the king said, urging the Iraqi leaders to get united to safeguard their country’s achievements.
He said the unity of Iraq’s people was also required to protect the right of its future generation to live in honor and pride. “Everybody understands that you are at the crossroads, which demands all-out efforts to unify ranks, forgetting and forgiving past wounds to get rid of the ghost of conflicts and put out the fire of loathsome sectarianism,” the king said.
The Saudi leader reminded the Iraqis that their strength remains in unity. “You have to unify the rank with perseverance and wisdom in order to stand firmly against those who try to create sedition — whatever be their intention or motives — as well as to rebuild the country,” he said.
King Abdullah offered Saudi Arabia’s full support to Iraqi leaders to reach resolutions that would restore their country’s security and peace. He reminded heads of different political and religious factions of their important role in peacemaking.
“You role (to establish peace and stability in Iraq) will be written in history and remembered by generations to come,” the king said. “I request you not to fill those young memories with sorrows, pains and misfortunes,” he added. “Let’s work together for the unity and stability of Iraq and its people,” the king said.
An ardent supporter of Arab and Islamic unity, King Abdullah has previously organized such reconciliation meetings between the Palestinian and Somali factions. He also brokered an agreement between Sudan and Chad aimed at reinforcing territorial integrity and rooting out opposition forces from both countries that are using the border region as a base of operations.
Saudi Arabia has been trying to establish a unity government in Baghdad with the support of other influential Arab countries such as Egypt and Syria. Foreign Minster Prince Saud Al-Faisal recently conveyed a message from King Abdullah to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Prince Saud’s Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Aboul Gheit said the king’s message contained a number of issues, most importantly the present crisis in Iraq over the formation of government.
Commenting on King Abdullah’s invitation, Maysoon Al-Damluji, spokeswoman of Al-Iraqiya, said her group welcomed the king’s initiative. She urged all Iraqi political parties to participate in the Riyadh talks. “All these calls for dialogue are positive initiatives,” she said, stressing the importance of an Arab role in resolving the Iraqi crisis.
Iyad Jamaluddin, leader of Ahrar party, and Baha Al-Aaraji, leader of another party have also welcomed the royal gesture. Kurdish politician Kifah Mahmoud described the king’s invitation as one of the major initiatives. “Saudi Arabia has never interfered in the internal affairs of Iraq,” he said, underlying the Kingdom’s position as a good mediator without any vested interests.