Sunday, May 22, 2005
Iran digging deeper in Iraq
Atul Aneja
Extensive preparations to extend its influence
MANAMA: Already known for its clout in Iraq, Iran is making extensive preparations to extend its influence in its western neighbour.
The first visit to Iraq by Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi saw Teheran formalising its diplomatic presence in the Shia religious stronghold of Karbala and Basra, southern Iraq's oil capital. A joint statement issued at the end of Mr. Kharrazi's three-day visit stated that Iran would open its consulates in Basra and Karbala. Iraq, in turn, would open consul-general offices in Khorramshahr and Kermanshah. It is expected that the entire exercise would be concluded in two months. Mr. Kharrazi's visit came two days after U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited Iraq.
The statement acknowledged that "bilateral security cooperation" between Iran and Iraq had expanded. The two sides underlined the need for enhancing security in Iraq as a top priority.
Besides, they decided to establish an "Iran-Iraq joint high commission" to steer their economic and political relationship. The statement reflected a compromise between Iran's interest in seeing an early end to the U.S. occupation and the new Iraqi Government's discomfort in fixing a time-line for the pull out.
Both sides therefore agreed on "accelerating withdrawal of multi-national forces from Iraq in accordance with the U.N. resolutions."
During his stay, Mr. Kharrazi praised the role that the "ulemas" or religious leaders had played in Iraqi developments.
Without naming anyone, Mr. Kharaazi stressed that "enemies" should not be given any chance to cause rift among Shias, Sunnis and Kurds.
Mr. Kharrazi's visit saw the formalisation of the view that the government of former President Saddam Hussein was the aggressor in the Iran-Iraq war that lasted eight years and ended in 1988, as well as in the conflict with Kuwait.
Mr. Kharrazi held talks with representatives of most religious and ethnic groups, including top Shia spiritual leader Ali Sistani, Kurdish leader and now Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari.
Stressing the importance of his talks with Ayatollah Sistani, Mr. Kharrazi said the Shia spiritual leader was playing a key role in alleviating the grief and suffering of Shias as well as the rest of the Iraqis. Ayatollah Sistani should continue to play a guiding role in Iraq, he said.
Sunnis form bloc
AP reports from Baghdad:
Sunni Arabs decided to form a political and religious organisation to represent the entire minority.
Despite the decision by more than 1,000 representatives of Sunni tribes, political parties and religious leaders, the sectarian tension that has permeated society expressed itself yet again when the newly minted organisation called for the immediate resignation of the Shia Interior Minister. Many Sunni Arabs blame the Shia-dominated security and defence forces for complicity in the recent assassination of numerous Sunni clerics and have closed mosques around Iraq in protest.
Copyright © 2005, The Hindu.