Fouad Hussein: We seek to gather opposites. The Iraqi Foreign Minister wished for a “diplomatic dial

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[size=52]Fouad Hussein: We seek to gather opposites. The Iraqi Foreign Minister wished for a “diplomatic dialogue” between Saudi Arabia and Iran[/size]

[size=31]Fouad Hussein to Asharq Al-Awsat: We seek to gather opposites[/size]

The Iraqi Foreign Minister wished for a "diplomatic dialogue" between Saudi Arabia and Iran
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Iraqi Foreign Minister during the interview
New York: Zaid bin Kamy and Ali Barada
[size=45]In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein said that the Iraqi government plays a role in “gathering opposites and creating a dialogue situation” between neighboring countries, especially the Arab Gulf states, in addition to Turkey and Iran. He stressed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia “plays an important role” in the Gulf, regionally, Arab, Islamic and international levels, expressing his belief that if its relationship with Iran improves, this role will “be bigger and stronger.” He hoped that the dialogue between the two parties would move from the security level to the diplomatic level.[/size]
[size=45]He revealed that Baghdad plays a mediating role between the United States and Iran, because “it is in the Iraqi interest to help” the two parties who “reached an agreement” on the materials for returning to the nuclear agreement, adding that the dispute remained over issues related to “the interdependence between the agreement, and solving some problems outside of the agreement.” the agreement". But he did not want to go into details, though he referred to the effects associated with the Ukraine war and the tensions between the United States on one hand, and Russia and China on the other. He stressed that the "6 + 4 group", which includes Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman, in addition to Jordan, Iraq, Egypt and Yemen, is not against Iran, but rather is a "cooperation group", especially in the economic and security fields, in addition to energy security, noting That the electrical connection between Iraq and the Gulf to Egypt has now reached an advanced stage.[/size]
[size=45]The conversation took place with the Iraqi Foreign Minister on the sidelines of the seventy-seventh annual session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Here is its text...[/size]
[size=45]> I will start from the issue of Palestine and President Mahmoud Abbas, who asked the United Nations Secretariat to initiate a serious process to achieve the two-state solution based on Palestine's full membership in the international organization. Is there an Arab consensus on this step?[/size]
[size=45]There is an Arab consensus on the position of the Palestinian leadership, which stems from the Palestinian reality and from the background of the Palestinian issue. There is an Arab consensus to support the Palestinian cause. For Iraq, this is a societal issue, it is part of the individual and collective culture. This topic is very sensitive. That is why a project was proposed and adopted in the Iraqi parliament.[/size]
[size=45]> The Palestinian issue arose with the emergence of the United Nations, but so far the international organization has not been able to achieve anything. Is the United Nations a powerless institution, or does it succeed in one place and not in another?[/size]
[size=45]– The Palestinian issue is not only related to the corridors of the United Nations and to raise the issue there. The Palestinian issue is related to the political situation in the region and has global dimensions, as well as to the balance of power. With the beginnings, in fact, the Palestinian issue was brought up in the corridors of the United Nations. If memory does not betray, the question was raised in 1947 that there would be two states. The two-state solution is not a new proposition. It goes back to the beginnings of working at the United Nations. But then, the Arab countries were opposed to this issue. Nevertheless, the Palestinian issue is a true and important issue, but solving the problem and adopting this issue is within the prerogative of the Palestinian leadership itself.[/size]
[size=45]> Enter from here to what is emerging from the different ways among the Arab countries in dealing with Israel at the present time. There are those who believe that the approach to the relationship with Israel can actually help in finding a settlement between Israel and the Palestinians. There are other Arab countries that fully agree with the other point of view, which says that there is no solution before giving the Palestinians their rights. Where does Iraq stand?[/size]
[size=45]Iraq respects the will of the Arab countries because this decision is a sovereign issue. But Iraq has a clear popular and parliamentary decision. We support the Palestinian cause and the Palestinian people. The proposals of the Palestinian people are the basic in Iraq's foreign policy. The Palestinian leadership is responsible for the Palestinian people. However, based on the Iraqi popular position and the position of the Iraqi parliament, the government is committed to Iraqi laws in this regard.[/size]
[size=45]We gather opposites through dialogue[/size]
[size=45]> I turn to a different, but related, issue, because Iraq plays a major role at the present time in bringing the views of the various Arab countries closer, or between Arab countries and other countries. Can you explain exactly where you stand, whether on this issue or on other issues?[/size]
[size=45]- If you are asking where we stand, this is clear. The Iraqi position is sometimes expressed by foreign policy, and sometimes by Iraqi laws. In this matter, we adopt Iraqi laws. We play a leading role in the region in bringing together opposites and in creating a dialogue in reality rather than going to conflicts. We are with dialogue.[/size]
[size=45]But when we talk about creating a dialogue situation, the conditions must also be prepared, and there must be mutual recognition between the parties. We focused on the neighboring countries because the Iraqi foreign policy gives priority to the neighborhood…[/size]
[size=45]> That is why, after the difficult years of Iraq, you may have returned to the Arab incubator, and rearranged your situation...[/size]
[size=45]We are in the Iraqi incubator. Our relations do not stem from the decisions of others, with my respect for neighboring countries as well. Our decisions stem from the Iraqi situation. But we have built strong relations with neighboring countries, including the Gulf states and the Gulf Cooperation Council. But also our relations are strong with Iran and with Turkey and other countries. Therefore, the issue is not the return of Iraq to the incubator. Iraq exists. geographically present. And politically there is. But the circumstances of the changes that took place in Iraq and the internal problems, isolated Iraq from some other issues, and in general from interaction or taking the initiative in foreign policy. During this period, we took the initiative in the Iraqi foreign policy, and we started to rely on taking the initiative instead of being in a position of reaction... We started managing the crisis, even managing the regional crises. From this standpoint, we began understandings, first between Iraq and these countries, and then between these countries and other countries, with Iraqi mediation and Iraqi action.[/size]
[size=45]Saudi Arabia at the Arab, Islamic and international levels[/size]
[size=45]> I noticed your personal relationship with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan during high-level meetings at the United Nations...[/size]
[size=45]Part of our diplomacy is based on personal meetings. After all, politics is man-made. Therefore, we have good personal relations with all the ministers of the Gulf states, as well as with the foreign ministers of surrounding countries such as Iran and Turkey. Our relations, thank God, are strong and we can communicate at any time with any minister. And they communicate with us. Most ministers contact us when there are some problems with some of these countries. We do the duty and do not announce it.[/size]
[size=45]> It plays the role of the dynamo in improving this relationship with several countries, especially with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Can you explain to us how you see the future of this relationship with Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Arab countries?[/size]
[size=45]The Kingdom plays an important role in the Gulf, regional, Arab, Islamic and international environments. Saudi Arabia is an important country. And if the relationship between the Kingdom and neighboring Iran improves, I think that this role will be bigger and stronger.[/size]
[size=45]> Perhaps from this point of view, it seeks to bring the views of Saudi Arabia and Iran closer...[/size]
[size=45]- We seek from this point of view, and also from an Iraqi point of view, because whenever there is a state of tension between the countries surrounding Iraq, this negatively affects the Iraqi situation. Whenever there is a good situation and normal relations between these countries, this will positively affect the internal Iraqi situation. So, the premises are national, and the premises are regional, and these premises have international dimensions.[/size]
[size=45]> Where have you reached in your efforts to bring the views closer?[/size]
[size=45]The concerned countries should talk about this issue, because it is ultimately related to the bilateral relations between the two countries. There are some things - the facts. First, the dialogues have begun, secondly they have reached 5 “sessions” of dialogue, and thirdly, the dialogues are taking place on a security level, but the whole world knows that there are dialogues. We arrived at a discussion in Riyadh, Tehran and Baghdad about how to raise the level of dialogue from a security level to a diplomatic level. There is also a dialogue within the context of the relationship. If these matters were agreed upon, this would mean that the Saudi-Iranian dialogue in Baghdad would be made public, rather than a secret one. We hope to reach this stage. We are working in this direction.[/size]
[size=45]Complaining about Iran[/size]
[size=45]> But one of the most important things is that there is a complaint, even within Iraq itself, that Iran is interfering a lot in the affairs of Iraq and other Arab countries. How do you see that?[/size]
[size=45]This is a bilateral issue between Iraq and Iran. It is true that the Iraqi situation concerns the region and the regional and global environment as well. (But see) the conditions that Iraq went through after the change in 2003, as well as the international interventions in Iraq. These interventions were under the international umbrella and by an international decision. Since 1991, Iraqi sovereignty has come under the umbrella of the UN resolution. Iraqi sovereignty was taken over in 1991, when sanctions and embargoes were imposed. The international team was searching the bedroom of the former Iraqi president. There was no Iraqi sovereignty at the time of Saddam Hussein.[/size]
[size=45]> Have you now restored Iraqi sovereignty?[/size]
[size=45]We are dealing with reality. There were armies from many countries, including the United States, in Iraq. The United States transformed itself from a country that carried out a military intervention into an occupying country. So, when there is a UN resolution, and this resolution talks about the occupation, this means that there was no Iraqi sovereignty. This is the Iraqi reality. And when we got out of the occupation situation, and when the Western armies, especially from Iraq, left Iraq, Iraq began to regain its sovereignty step by step. But that left traces. First, the intervention of many countries in the region was clear, politically, militarily, and so on. These interventions have become part of the Iraqi political reality. So working to reach, firstly, the independence of the decision, and secondly, the state of full sovereignty requires great and continuous work.[/size]
[size=45]I think this process has begun to reach the end state. Absolute sovereignty does not exist in the world. There are interactions between every issue, political, economic, military and security, with the surrounding countries and with other countries. But decision-making and decision-making must be in the hands of the people of the house. Iraqi decision-making and Iraqi decision-making should be in Baghdad and not in another capital. The march has begun, but the influences of other countries, including the surrounding countries and the regional ones, still remain, and some countries are interfering in Iraqi affairs on other grounds. This is the Iraqi reality. We are not jumping on the facts and saying that Iraqi sovereignty is complete. this is not true.[/size]
[size=45]Mediation between America and Iran[/size]
[size=45]> Part of the concerns in the region is also related to the Iranian nuclear program, which has become a very hot point of controversy, not only in our region, but throughout the world. What is the position of Iraq?[/size]
[size=45]Iraq's position is clear. We are in favor of reaching an agreement on the nuclear project. We support the Vienna talks. In fact, many times during the last two years, we have been in constant contact between Washington and Tehran, even during the elections and the Democrats' victory, before the elections and after the elections, and sometimes we help both sides. The goal of Iraqi policy in this field is to reach an agreement between the Islamic Republic and the United States. Why? First, because this issue has an Arab dimension. Creating another crisis while we have many crises directly affects the region. Second, as a result of the strong relations between Baghdad and Washington, and the strong relations with neighboring Iran, any tension between the two parties affects the Iraqi political reality. It is in the Iraqi interest to help the two parties to reach a conclusion.[/size]
[size=45]> The agreement was around the corner at last, but something happened that prevented it from reaching it. Have you recently made any effort to overcome the remaining differences or difficulties in front of returning to the nuclear agreement?[/size]
[size=45]We did, and we still do. I had a meeting (last week) with Iranian Foreign Minister (Hossein Amir) Abdullahian and before that with some American officials on this issue. We are still trying to bring the two sides closer. But there are actually problems. The problem is not related to the nuclear agreement, and the problem is not related to the negotiations between Iran and the “5+1 group” (of the permanent members of the Security Council; the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China, plus Germany). There are some basic problems between Tehran and Washington outside the nuclear agreement, but they have become part of the agreement. When I talk about outside the nuclear deal, I mean the articles of the agreement. Articles of agreement have been reached. The issue is that there is a correlation between the agreement and the solution of some problems outside the agreement. These problems have started to stem recently, but we are still in dialogue with the two parties and we will see. Thank God both parties trust us.[/size]
[size=45]Impact of the Ukraine war[/size]
[size=45]> Did the American side carry you any message other than the above?[/size]
[size=45]We do not carry messages. But we are talking with the American side and we are talking with the Iranian side. We discuss the Iranian position with the American side, we discuss the American position with the Iranian side, and we try to find ways to reach understandings. But this issue is not only American - Iranian. It's an issue that has implications in the ocean, and so does the Russo-Ukrainian war. Attitudes towards this war have effects, as Russia is part of the "5+1 group" and China as well. So there are other conflicts overlapping the issue of the Iran-US nuclear agreement.[/size]
[size=45]> In your estimation, will this agreement happen?[/size]
[size=45]- I can not say. I hope it will happen.[/size]
[size=45]> It means you have doubts.[/size]
[size=45]- I have no doubts. But I am also reading the internal American political situation and the upcoming elections in the United States. Read the Iranian political and internal situation and the problems that exist now in Iran. Read a map of the conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, between Russia and the United States, and between China and the United States. Read a map of alliances between Russia, Iran, China and Iran. All of these things play a role.[/size]
[size=45]- it's a mess[/size]
[size=45]> Are we returning to something like the time of the Baghdad Pact in the region and the world?[/size]
[size=45]No, the Baghdad Pact was at a certain stage. The world was at another stage. We're so messy all over the place. New alliances, new contradictions. We are back to this stage.[/size]
[size=45]> What do you fear for Iraq and the region?[/size]
[size=45]- I fear for the world, actually. There are serious threats now. The world entered into serious challenges. If these threats are put into action, our world is in danger. Our world is at risk from natural disasters related to climate change. The most dangerous thing in the world is man-made disasters...[/size]
[size=45]> Like.[/size]
[size=45]The Ukrainian-Russian War. This war has international dimensions. This war is not between two parties, but rather the economic effects of energy security, food security, and drug security, on the peoples of the world. This is a fact. And if methods of warfare develop - God forbid - this is a threat to the world. And now the world began to divide into two parties, or different parties. That's why I say; Armed anarchy on a global level has become armed anarchy on a global level, leading to new contradictions, new conflicts and new alliances. But these alliances, contradictions or conflicts are not in the interest of humanity. We are in danger of human encroachment on nature, and as a result, climate change, which is also man-made, has increased. The most dangerous thing is that we have begun to produce conflicts that we cannot compare with the Second World War or the First World War. The weapons that exist now differ from those of the First World War. It is necessary to think in this field, and Iraq is part of this planet, and Iraq is part of the regional areas. Regionally, if we do not reach agreements, regional security will also be in danger. We need understandings, and we must stay away from armed conflicts. From this point of view, especially since Iraqi society has suffered from wars and internal fighting for 50 years, we need a state of calm, and I am not talking about a state of peace, because this is far from attainable. We need a cease-fire, at least until we manage things differently. There are serious challenges in our world. And here is my fear in reality.[/size]
[size=45]6+4 مجموعة group[/size]
[size=45]> You talk about our world, which is going through a period of danger that threatens the region and the international community, but can the "6 + 4 group" of the Gulf states with Jordan, Iraq, Egypt and Yemen be considered a nucleus...?[/size]
[size=45]As a result of these conflicts, we see countries that think in the same directions converge, to protect ourselves and the region. Now, there are different political, security, economic and cultural axes. But the “6 + 4” meeting (and before that was “6 + 3”) must be in the interest of the region. First, for the region's security interest, secondly for the region's economic and social interest, and also for energy protection. We saw that energy prices rose as a result of the Russo-Ukrainian war. But a large part of the energy sources stem from these countries. If there are problems between these countries, they will directly affect the global economic situation. That is why cooperation in this field is important. But this group is a group of friendship, not hostility to the other, and we must be frank; This group is not a hostile group for neighboring Iran. There are intensive talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran to rebuild relations. There are now good relations between the UAE and Iran, good relations between Kuwait and Iran, good relations between Qatar and the Sultanate of Oman with Iran, and of course good relations between Iraq and Iran. So, this group is not against Iran. The Iranian side should not be taken as being against Iran. Rather, this is a group of cooperation, especially in the economic and security fields, but it also plays a role, because every country has its own policy.[/size]
[size=45]> Did you feel from the Iranian side that it sees it against Iran, even though it did not declare it?[/size]
[size=45]The second session was held in New York, noting that the first session was held in Saudi Arabia during President Biden's visit. There was an Iranian obsession. But after the session, the Iranians thanked us for our clear positions. Now also, when we met, we did not raise the issue. It is true that we discussed the Iranian side, but we discussed the Iranian issue, especially the nuclear project and the Vienna negotiations. This is a global issue, and everyone is discussing it.[/size]
[size=45]> Where have you reached in the electrical linkage project between Iraq and the Gulf to Egypt?[/size]
[size=45]We have made a lot of progress in this field. We got to the technical and practical issues. The electrical connection with Jordan, and consequently with Egypt, took place. And the electrical connection with the Gulf countries through Kuwait has already been done. The issue of electricity for Iraq is a life issue, and we have big problems in the struggle with electricity, and we hope that by linking the Iraqi networks with the Jordanian, and thus the Egyptian, and the Kuwaiti network, and thus the Gulf, we will solve some of our problems. But in the future we want to produce and export electricity. We now have suffering, and the infrastructure of the electrical industry is old and destroyed as a result of wars, internal conflicts and internal fighting. We were late in this area, but as a result of financial corruption in reality. So we are looking forward to linking the Iraqi network with other networks, which will help us at the present time, while we are waiting for us to return to electrical production in Iraq.[/size]
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