MALIKI WILL BEGIN A TWO-DAY VISIT TO EGYPT TOMORROW

Iraq not in favor of tense relations with Syria -- Al-Maliki
19 December 2009

CAIRO -- Iraq does nor favor tense relations with Syria, and seeks to end all disputes with Arab countries, said Iraqi Premier Nouri Al-Maliki on Saturday.

Al-Maliki, who will begin a two-day visit to Egypt tomorrow, said in an interview with the local "Al-Ahram" newspaper that Iraq welcomed any effort on the part of Egypt or the Arab League to end these disputes
However, he said that "the Syrian regime must take a clear stand on the killing of Iraqi people." Asked about the situation in Iraq prior to the elections, set for March 7, he said that it was "must better after the elimination of the hideous face of sectarianism and its replacement with patriotism." The recent attacks in Iraq "were carried out by elements that do not believe in the political process," he added, while noting that there were security breaches "like those that occur all over the world." These breaches, he said, must be dealt with through the law, and he rejected any Iranian intervention in Iraq's internal affairs.

Al-Maliki said that Iraq was seeking full control of its borders with Iran and its other neighbors to prevent the smuggling of weapons into the country, adding that Iraq wanted its relations with Saudi "to be at their best." Moreover, he said that US withdrawal from Iraq would take place as scheduled, in line with the security agreement signed between the two sides, adding that "Iraq is ready to fill in any security void." As for the recent contracts for the development of Iraqi oil fields to increase their production capacity by more than 12 million barrels per day, Al-Maliki said that these were "transparent" and reflected the government's keenness for the country's best interests.

When asked whether he would be running for the premiership post again, he said he would not "unless the Iraqi people asked me to." On his visit to Egypt, scheduled for tomorrow, he hoped that it would mark the beginning of a new phase in Egyptian-Iraqi relations "that overcomes the tension that rose during the reign of the former regime, and develops (the relationship) on a more solid basis." Al-Maliki said that he would be discussing with President Hosni Mubarak issues relations to boosting bilateral relations through investments and more activity of Egyptian companies in Iraq. He also said that several agreements would be signed with Egyptian Premier Ahmad Nazif.

© KUNA (Kuwait News Agency) 2009
http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20091219081906