The US said Thursday it did not trust the gestures of reconciliation between Iraq and its Arab neighbors at the Arab League summit in Beirut. Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah and Izzat Ibrahim al Douri, deputy president of the Iraqi Revolutionary Council, surprised attendees by walking hand in hand into the Arab League summit hall on Thursday.
This was followed by another display of Arab solidarity with the heads of the Iraqi and Kuwaiti delegations shaking hands for the first time since the 1990 Gulf War. Although the moves earned a standing ovation from delegates, they failed to impress the US. "We have to remain profoundly skeptical," given Iraq's "deplorable record of flouting its international obligations," said US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher.
According to UPI, Washington was also suspicious of Iraq's pledge not to invade Kuwait again, saying, "Iraq has never evidenced real intent to respect Kuwaiti sovereignty." Earlier, Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri told the summit his country was ready to engage in direct negotiations with Kuwait. Boucher said the test was not whether Iraqi officials chose to shake hands publicly with Kuwaiti officials, but matching the displays with deeds.
Summit spokesman Ghassan Salame, however, hailed the moves as a major achievement. "It's the first time an Arab meeting reached this level of...understanding concerning the state [of relations] between Iraq and Kuwait," he said. "We welcome any contact." Boucher said Iraq had "pretended" it would protect Kuwait's sovereignty numerous times and violated it numerous times.
Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah told Reuters the handshake had occurred when Iraqi presidential envoy Izzat Ibrahim had approached him during a closed session.
"What are we? Small children? We were sitting in a closed session of heads of delegations. When someone comes to shake hands with you, what do you do? You won't shake hands?" he said. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
