On Sunday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said it was time to reconsider UN sanctions against Iraq, a Middle East News Agency report said.
"Now it is time to reassess the sanctions imposed on Iraq," the official Egyptian news agency quoted Maher as saying during a meeting with the Egyptian Businessmen's Association.
Baghdad should also abide by international resolutions and take steps to assure its neighboring countries that it would not repeat what took place in 1990, Maher added, referring to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait.
Maher restated Egypt's rejection of any potential military strike against Iraq, stating that Egypt and other Arab countries were maintaining contacts to make clear the danger of such a measure, especially after Iraq expressed its readiness to comply with UN resolutions.
"We hope such a spirit will continue so that Iraq can avoid further suffering," he was quoted as saying.
Ties between Cairo and Baghdad, strained in the aftermath of the 1990-91 Gulf crisis, have recently shown some indications of improving. Trade, under the oil-for-food deal between Baghdad and the United Nations, has also blossomed. According to the deal, Iraq is permitted to export unlimited quantities of oil over six months to buy food, medicine and other humanitarian needs for the Iraqi people. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
