Zebari: Iraq between two fires .. Iran and America

Zebari: Iraq between two fires .. Iran and America
 

Saturday, September 04, 1434 July 13, 2013 Issue 12646     


Iraq's foreign minister likely in an interview with Al-Sharq al-Awsat and the presence of Russian American understanding on the survival of Assad until 2014

Paris: Michel Abu Najm

Revealed Hoshyar Zebari, the Iraqi foreign minister that the parties propose to heal the Conference of European 'Geneva 2' on the sidelines of the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York in September next year. However, he cautioned that such an option سيفرغ Conference content and سيحوله of the meeting is the impact or importance. The minister said that his Syrian counterpart Walid al-Moallem request from Iraq during his visit to Baghdad last month deposits and financial crude oil at preferential prices. But Iraq refused to respond.

Hoshyar Zebari said in a lengthy interview with Al-Sharq al-Awsat on the occasion of his visit to Paris, the first task is concentrated to clarify Iraq's position on the Syrian crisis and show that the reality between two fires: Iran and the United States. But he is committed to neutral position different from the self-distancing. Zebari pointed out that he had informed Westerners that his country is able to stop the transfer of weapons from Tehran to Damascus if it exists, and called on them to stop if they are contrary to the resolutions of the UN Security Council, which prevents the entry and exit of arms from Iran.

With Zebari ruled out foreign military intervention in Syria, the likely presence of Understanding U.S. - Russian to keep Assad in power until the end of his term next year. Zebari ruled out for a difference in visions or interests between the Syrian regime and Iran, but called to wait Hassan Rohani recognizes his responsibilities and the formation of the new Iranian government and the delegation's top nuclear negotiator to clarify the prospects for the new Iranian policy and its implications for regional and Syria.

And the internal situation in Iraq and the proliferation of security bombings and high numbers of deaths and casualties, Zebari considered that there is a shortcoming of the government and its organs. But he ruled Iraq sliding into civil war or sectarian lines. The following is the text of the interview:

* I have met in recent days with a wide range of foreign ministers and Western officials in NATO and the European Union. Is your view there is a clear vision of what to expect Western developments and future situation in Syria?

- Through intensive contacts with the Security Council and Europe, and even with the regional and Arab countries, have not seen me, and with great regret, that there is no clear vision in terms of how to deal with the Syrian crisis or put an end to the bloodshed and destruction daily. The main reason is the lack of international will to act in order to stop this tragedy. Of course, this is linked to the situation of the international economic situation in many countries of the decision.

* In other words?

- I mean that in the United States, there is an economic crisis and there management is keen to get away from everything that would lead to outside military intervention or even for humanitarian reasons or justifications purely American. The Europeans, they are unable to move independently of the Americans. Also, the regional countries interested near the Syrian opposition and the field the Syrian situation, it is able and is not eligible to be her leadership. There is a team exists but lacks 'Captain' to lead the process of change and transition, or a political settlement. Add to that the Syrian crisis more and more complicated day after day, and no one has any control over the situation on the ground, neither the opposition nor the system. And here lies the face of risk, which warned him since the early days of the outbreak of the Syrian revolution. All currently holds the Geneva Conference 2 project as a result of an international consensus Russian - American. But through our recent shows us that the chances of holding the above-mentioned conference fallen so much it can not be held this month or even next month. There are those who suggest between European countries held on the sidelines of the General Assembly of the United Nations in September next year. In our view, this conference loses a lot of its importance.

* Is this a serious proposal?

- The idea put forward. If you won the conference in this way, it will be a quick meetings on the sidelines of the General Assembly and a mere declaration known positions.

* Problem regarding the Geneva 2 that there is a dispute on the agenda and another on the fate of President al-Assad as well as the opposition refuses to go to Geneva before «rebalance the field?

- It is true there is a debate about who represents the regime and the opposition, as well as on external parties on the agenda and powers .. We advised the system when visited by him delegation headed by Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem last month and also advised the opposition not to set preconditions for it will not satisfy in any case the other party whatsoever. The Syrian government has announced its participation in the Geneva 2 of Baghdad. During our meetings with the Syrian delegation, we asked them: What do you accept submitted at the negotiating table? The answer was: ready for everything except put the departure of Assad, who reject absolute refusal. This is a red line. Also refuse to disarm his powers as commander in chief of the armed forces and is responsible for the security forces. But we repeated the question: What do you suggest? They answered: We are ready to form joint committees with the opposition in order to write the constitution and the electoral process and the electoral law and participation .. Any accept the establishment of technical committees. Our response was that they have to reduce their positions if they wanted to actually participate 'in the conference' to reach a political solution as this may be the last opportunity. At the time was a short battle at the beginning and the delegation was confident of victory. But our response to them was: The battle Hsemtem in the short and Homs, Hama and Deir al-Zour and rural areas of the Levant and other, what are you going to do then? The opposition has said: Suppose you Astadtm balance and Astadtm the town or towns, what next? What are the goals that the opposition may be achieved if the system remained standing?

I would like to say in all honesty that the current war in Syria has become a war of attrition. Regional war in every sense of the word, and perhaps broader than that. It is administered through agents. The problem in the Syrian crisis because there is no consistency in the process of supporting parties. There is an imbalance in the sense that Russia's position clear and explicit: Support of all kinds and arming of various types of weapons. Iran and Hezbollah have similar positions. While on the other side, the pro-opposition party has no willingness to enter direct confrontation. So the war pass through the agents. Or through a limited covert operations inside Syria or to provide some intelligence and some financial support. However, there is no possibility of 'Today' to change the system.

I would like to point out that we are today in Iraq, in the most difficult situations and our mission was during this European tour to نوضحها and Europeans understand that they interpret the positions of the Syrian crisis wrong.

* How so?

- We say that we are caught between two fires: the fire of Iran, a powerful neighbor, an ally and friend of the hand. On the other hand, the fire of the United States of America which is also our ally. Our problem is how to maintain our position and حياديتنا is to be dragged to this party or that.

* You are also self-distancing School?

- No, not from this school. We want to have an independent opinion and to be neutral, but other than that dissociate ourselves because the situation in Syria is affecting us. Another false information about the Iraqi position, which we seek to correct it. The first things that we do not provide any weapons to Syria. We also do not offer any money or any financial deposits of the Central Bank of Syria. We also do not offer any crude oil at preferential prices to Syria. When we received the Syrian delegation to Baghdad gave those requests. Our response was that we are not able to because there are international obligations we have to be respected as we were at that time under the provisions of Chapter VII.

The second error is common for Iraq, we make it easy for volunteers to go to Syria to fight or defend Shiite centers. This issue is not denied, but to say that this is not going to encourage, support or approval of the government.

* Do you want to say it's just the individual initiatives?

- Exactly. Some of the militias and some of the actors associated with Hezbollah and other militant Shiite organizations could be involved militarily. But we do not support that does not agree with him more than a statement issued on the subject. Joe Biden, U.S. Vice President Prime Minister Maliki Light this subject. For our part, emphasis was placed on the position explained by you.

* But there are other suspicions, including that Iraq facilitate or turn a blind eye on the transfer of Iranian weapons to Syria through its airspace?

- We moved since last September, we began to arbitrary inspections of Iranian and Syrian aircraft. And materials that we discovered is not 'lethal' because it is a metaphor for the equipment, medicines, food .. In all honesty say that these planes may incur is what I said. But we do not have the means to deter and air defense systems and military aviation, which prevents get such things «any transfer of arms».

I said to Westerners: If you want to prevent the bridge Iranian airspace over Iraq to Syria, do.

* But not required of you to prevent the Iranian or Syrian aviation to fly in Iraqi airspace, but make sure not to transfer weapons and military gear?

- We say to the Iranians: We do not want you that you will use your relations with us for the transfer of any weapon to others. Reached this position of Tehran, a position advertised. And more than that, we said NATO two days ago and accepted by the members of the Security Council and a narrow members of the Syrian people: We reject and condemn the transfer of arms across the skies and we will inform the Iranian side formally, but we do not have the ability to stop it. And added: If you imagine that these trips are contrary to the resolutions of the Security Council arms embargo, which refuses to exit and prevent arms from Iran under Chapter VII resolutions, I invite you on behalf of the government to help us to stop these flights over Iraqi airspace.

* Westerners know that Iraq has asked Iran to refrain from the transfer of arms across its airspace and that he do some inspections, but they can see that there are 'fluidity' in the application of these control procedures and commercial aviation is not to prevent Iran from flying in Ojoaúkm?

- Out of topic with Westerners is that they believe that there is a military airlift from Tehran to Damascus. And passes over Iraq. Iraq is: this does not get agreeing. Nor I have the ability and the potential to prevent the occurrence. If they wanted to stop so let them do.

part 2



Do you repeat the request in your meeting with NATO in Brussels?
 
- Topic was raised and we answered. The fact that we have nothing to hide in Iraq.
 
* President Assad launched in recent days, some of the statements which understands that his regime has passed the danger stage and critical stage. This can be understood as a rejection of a political solution and it seems the subject of Geneva is not serious?
 
- The Syrian regime has regained the lead military. This began before the short-term. The starting point was in Damascus and Deraa area. Currently, Homs, Aleppo Mhasrtan. The system found that there is no international reactions «on what the system is like a military escalation and use all kinds of weapons and even chemical weapons or other practices.
 
In Jordan, for example, Washington proclaimed Patriot missiles and F-16 aircraft brought in .. But it turns out for the Syrian regime to foreign intervention, which was worried about him and that these will not get just a manifestation of procedures. In my opinion, it is a day has been agreed between the Russians and the Americans on the Geneva 2, it was on the understanding that Assad could remain in office until 2014 «until the end of his presidency.
 
* This is a tacit understanding, is not it?
 
- Yes, it was a tacit understanding. And research between the two sides were on the stage following the expiry of the mandate of the lion.
 
* What we do know that the Americans did not get from the Russian side on the promise that Assad will not be re-elected in 2014?
 
- Things are left open. It is constructive ambiguity. And appreciation, on the one hand, that the situation in Syria will not come to him only solution Syrians on the other hand that the intervention 'outside' who ran the people behind it will not be achieved. I do not read in the unseen. But I think it will not happen unless signed terrible things «major massacre, the use of chemical weapons is widely ..». Even in this case, the intervention awaited by many is uncertain.
 
* Next month will receive the Hassan Rohani presidency in Iran. Do I have a meaningful changes in Iran's foreign policy, especially about the file of the Arab Spring and Syria?
 
- I think frankly that the election of Hassan Rohani the majority of votes in the first session of a frank and clear Iran to the Security Council and to the European countries and the United States that Iran is serious about discuss the issue of the blockade, sanctions and nuclear file more seriously than the previous phase, but there was a possibility to disable results at least in the first phase. Moreover, this large and popular momentum that emerged from the base of the reformists and the Green Revolution, youth and women push the Iranian leadership to act wisely and rationally. But at stake is the formation of the Intergovernmental Panel and the negotiating team «in the nuclear file and the composition of the new government to be formed after the month of Ramadan. These elements will provide strong indications about the point of change in Iran: Is it in the direction of moderation and dismantling of Iran's isolation and address their problems, or in a contrary direction.
 
* It is known that the nuclear file in the hands of the guide as well as foreign policy. Is spiritual left to the sidelines to move?
 
- Everything in the hands of the leader. But the guide can be responsive to the public mood and opinion of the people.
 
* But he did not respond to public opinion in the last presidential election?
 
- The last time deliberately to decisiveness. If not resolved to the response was with him in another way. From a personal point of view, I tend to expect the pros from the receipt of spiritual power.
 
* Is the Iranian interests and the interests of the regime in Syria will remain identical or there given moment Stfterq the interests of each other?
 
- You will not get any divergence between the interests of the two countries. Let's remember that the Americans and the French tried to remove Syria from the Iranian axis. But this did not happen. They asked us our opinion and Ojbnahm that this can not happen and already failed attempts.
 
It is clear that Iran existential defend its interests in the eastern Mediterranean and Hezbollah, which is the line of confrontation with Israel and the 'possibility' extension in the region. So today is the fear of invitations to defuse sectarian conflict transplant Sunni - Shiite, which we consider most dangerous threatening Bastvhal of the conflict in Syria.
 
* What weights rapid developments in Egypt? The way out of the current situation?
 
- Required to hand over power as soon as possible to an elected civilian authority. African Union froze Egypt's membership. European countries as well as the United States is very embarrassing about what is happening in Egypt. There is no time window during which must be carried out quickly and the process of transferring power to the Government derived from the elections and only the Islamists will not surrender so so the stakes are high. We can see a very painful events. See what is happening in Sinai and what happened to the Republican Guard barracks «in Cairo and elsewhere. We must remember what happened in Algeria «after the cessation of the electoral process in 1991 where many turned violent Islamic groups. I feel that the Egyptians and through their organizations and through their awareness can succeed in overcoming this ordeal and but whenever rushed in so the risk is less.
 
* Internal Iraqi situation
 
* Recently, the official warned the United Nations Mission for Iraq (Francesco Motta) from the outbreak of what looks like 'civil war' in Iraq, which reiterated the findings of other international envoy Martin Kobler the end of June following the completion of his mission in Baghdad, where he warned of that «the lack of dialogue will lead to disaster and that the conflict between Sunnis and Shiites« paralyze everything ». Then there are numbers of the dead (2500 people) within three months. And all indicators are alarming. My question is: What is happening today in Iraq and why? Are you a victim of the Syrian situation?
 
- If we are to be honest in evaluating the image in Iraq, we must recognize the existence of internal security failures in terms of performance, this can not be justified at all. It is the responsibility of the government is responsible for maintaining the safety and security of its people. There are shortened in government performance. There is terrorism. There are repercussions of the Syrian crisis. But we have the potential and capabilities, security and military.
 
* Where are these capabilities and what you do?
 
- Why poor security performance.
 
* But this is ten years ago?
 
- No, there are periods worse than other periods. But there are terrorist hotbeds exist and there are al-Qaeda and elements of the former regime and interventions in the Iraqi situation. However, I believe that all these considerations do not justify the fall of the high numbers of deaths and casualties at all.
 
However, I consider that Iraq will descend into a sectarian war as easily as envisaged by some people and so for a variety of reasons the first internal restraint. In 2006 and 2007, we entered the civil war and sectarian Ogana the gates of hell but then retreat. This photo is stuck in the minds of all Iraqis. Despite the existence of Iraq's sectarian shipping, the fighting among Iraqis is not easy because of the overlap between families and clans. For example, we can be found on the clan sons half of the year and the other half of the Shiites. We must point out that the Iraqi government with all its components stand against conflicts of this kind. Succeed in dismantling government crisis. See what happened in the last spring of the rally between the government forces and the peshmerga. Many waited for the outbreak of fighting. But the fighting did not erupt because each party pays the edge of the abyss and not into the abyss.
 
We do not deny that we are suffering from political crises, security, social, service-.. However, everyone agrees on crisis management. And avoid escalation and address what solutions can be processed pending elections next year.
 
* In Iraq, the issue of the presidency Matrouh as Matrouh Multi presidency of the Kurdistan region. What exit?
 
- We have the fact that presidential vacuum in Baghdad because of President Talabani's disease, the lips of God and there is a constitutional vacuum. But because of the status of President Talabani and his personality, no one dares to discuss this matter because of ethical reasons.
 
* But there is Iraq's national interest?
 
- Logically, I was supposed to get a move to find a replacement as the President patients since more than six months. But because of the aura that infuses and because of his strength of character and influence, no one raises the subject.
 
* Do I understand from your words that the subject of the succession of President Talabani will not ask until the end of his mandate in the month of February next year?
 
- This is the best a trend because no one would run what was left alive. It is in our view the best solution.
 
 
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Rapprochement between Barzani and Maliki, the fruit of the efforts of Iranian American


Published 13/07/2013 12:02 AM




Babinaoz - Agencies : new U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden, his contacts with the President of the Government of Iraq Nouri al-Maliki and Kurdish regional President Massoud Barzani and Houdhma on intensifying meetings and not just what they've achieved the convergence of so far, a convergence said his Kurdish leader was the result of pressure from Iranian not American.
On the other hand look attempts to hold a national conference to resolve the ongoing political crisis in years, subject to the necessities general elections early next year.
congratulated the Biden-Maliki and Barzani in two phone calls on the evolution of the relationship between Baghdad and Erbil, also congratulated the Iraqi government to get out of Chapter VII, it said in a statement to the government, b «Iraq's return to practice positive impact regionally and growing relations with various Arab countries.
statement added that the two sides exchanged views at various Alttoarat in the region and the Syrian crisis. Maliki confirmed the position of Iraq «hard calling for the need to intensify efforts to find a political solution to the Syrian crisis and put an end to the suffering of the Syrian people, worsening».
was Barzani visited Baghdad last Sunday at the head of political delegation to discuss the outstanding issues, in response to Maliki's visit Arbil on June 9 (June) the past and the head of a cabinet meeting there.
but contacts Biden, which coincided with the worsening political situation in Iraq does not seem to bear fruit.
said Kurdish leader Mahmoud Othman said that «witnessed relationship center and the region finally convergence was Tehran's main role in it, did not play Washington any role », stressing that Iraq« is no longer a priority of America ».
, do not find political parties of Iraq, including the National Dialogue Front led by Saleh al-Mutlaq, that the meetings between the parties to the crisis could lead to a solution, and sees a spokesman for the front Haider Mulla said that « Iran controls and America Taatgman the political process, the two Alaradtan most prominent today and talk, after ten years of meetings for the convergence of views between politicians negative indicator problem in the rule of turbans black and white and in the experience of religious rule that has failed ».
, but other data impose themselves on the reality of compatibility, most notably unwillingness of the various parties to reach a settlement before the general election in 2014 and is intended to be a new standard in determining the weights forces after brought provincial elections in April last change in alliances, and reflected the inability of the prime minister to form a majority government political faction is in the third term.
does not threaten the current balances only the continuation of armed attacks and aggravation, the rising suicide attacks during the month of Ramadan, especially in Baghdad and Diyala. The first began yesterday, killing more than fifty Iraqis, in less than 24 hours, and issued al-Qaeda threats targeting the security forces and markets and ball courts. It was announced in Diyala killed 475 people, over the past three months, while the threatened tribal leaders in the province to form armed units to defend themselves and the expulsion of the army,
security forces accused of indifference and negligence in the prosecution of armed groups.

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So, it is a coin flip with a two headed coin wouldn't you say? ... ;)