FMs begin arriving in Riyadh for conference of Iraq's neighbors

RIYADH (AFP) Apr 17, 2003
Syrian Foreign Minister Faruq al-Shara and his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Maher arrived here late Thursday ahead of an eight-country regional conference on post-war Iraq, officials sai.

The ministers of six countries bordering Iraq -- host Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey, Syria, Jordan and Kuwait -- as well of those of regional heavyweight Egypt and current Arab League chairman Bahrain are expected to discuss ways to restore stability in Baghdad during the talks Friday.

According to government officials, the ministers will meet Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, the kingdom's de facto ruler, and might also pay a courtesy call to the ailing King Fahd before opening their conference in the late afternoon.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal has said the "emergency regional conference" was called "in response to the current circumstances and developments in Iraq, which affect the Iraqi people in particular, and (have) repercussions on the countries of the region in general."

The conference is expected to issue a declaration rejecting US threats against Syria and calling for allowing the Iraqi people to run their own affairs.

The ministers will also focus on much-needed humanitarian aid for the Iraqi people especially in the medical sector.

Saudi Arabia has already announced 80 million dollars in emergency assistance to Iraq ordered by King Fahd.

Iraq's neighbours will also discuss the impact of the new geopolitical realities in the region brought about by the ouster of Saddam Hussein's regime and the presence of hundreds of thousands of US troops in Iraq.

Political analysts and diplomats said the Friday meeting would mull ways of helping form a national government in Baghdad and shorten the presence of US forces there.

The eight countries are also expected to discuss how to deal with a US military administration Washington is preparing to install in Baghdad.

Foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states -- Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates -- called after an extraordinary meeting in Riyadh Tuesday for the establishment of a national Iraqi government from all political shades.

GCC states said they were prepared to deal with such an entity provided it does not stay for long and starts handing over power to a national Iraqi government.

SPACE.WIRE