Damasco, Siria. IRNA. 8 de abril de 2007
Nacional. Internacional. Política.
Imad Mustafa, embajador de Siria en Washington, ha manifestado: “La solicitud de EEUU hecha a Damasco de cortar relaciones con la República Islámica de Irán es inaceptable.”
Mustafa ha hecho esta revelación en una entrevista que emitió Al Jazira de Qatar, en su versión vía satélite, donde concretó: “No somos nosotros quienes apoyamos la postura de Irán sino que es Irán el que apoya las tesis de los árabes y los derechos de éstos.”
“Mientras Teherán se posiciona en apoyo de nuestros intereses nacionales y étnicos, ¿cómo pretenden que nos distanciemos de los iraníes y adoptemos posturas contradictorias con las que mantiene este país?”, preguntó.
El diplomático sirio continuó: “Hemos anunciado a las comisiones estadounidenses que en lugar de empeñarse en crear una brecha entre Siria e Irán busquemos puntos comunes para crear unas relaciones diplomáticas constructivas que contribuyan a la estabilidad de Oriente Medio.”
Tom Lantus, miembro de la comisión que acompaña a Nancy Pelosi (presidenta del Congreso de EEUU) en su visita a Siria, declaró en una rueda de prensa poco antes de abandonar Damasco que le había pedido a Siria que corte sus relaciones con Irán, postura ésta que también defiende Israel.
9 Abril 2007
'Barzani's statement is extremely disturbing' says Gül to Rice, in a telephone conversation late Saturday
SERKAN DEMÄ°RTAÅž, ANKARA – Turkish Daily News
Infuriated by the threats made by Massoud Barzani, president of the autonomous Kurdish region, Turkey immediately warned the United States on Saturday that “Barzani's statements are extremely disturbing” and that he should be urged not to repeat his threats against Turkey, during a telephone conversation between Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül and his American counterpart Condoleezza Rice.
Barzani on Saturday, in an interview with Al Arabiyah TV, warned Turkey is not to interfere in the Kurds's bid to attach oil-rich city of Kirkuk to the Kurdish autonomous zone and said that, “If it does, we will interfere in Diyarbakır's issues and other cities in Turkey.” Arguing that the independence and statehood for Kurds, who live in Turkey, Iran, Syria and Iraq is a legitimate and legal right, Barzani stressed his point by saying “There are 30 million Kurds in Turkey and we don't interfere there. If they (the Turks) interfere in Kirkuk over just a few thousand Turkmen then we will take action regarding the 30 million Kurds in Turkey."
The Turkish Daily News has learned that Gül phoned Rice late Saturday and expressed his government's anger concerning Barzani's statements and Baghdad's decision to hold the Iraqi meeting in Egypt's Sharm Al Sheikh, instead of Istanbul. Turkey has long-waited to host a ministerial meeting with its Iraqi neighbors alng with the G-5 (U.N. Security Council permanent members) and G-8 (most industrialized nations), but the Iraqi government preferred Egypt's Red Sea resort for May 3-4 gathering.
Barzani wants to provoke
A foreign ministry official informed the TDN that Gül said to Rice, “Barzani's words are extremely disturbing, unacceptable and are considered as a provocation.” According to Turkey, Barzani's statements are threatening the unity and territorial integrity of Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria, and it is the legal right of these countries to protect their integrity. “Barzani should be urged in the strongest way not to repeat his threats against Turkey,” said Gül to Rice.
A high-level Turkish official, speaking to TDN on the condition of anonymity, re-affirmed Turkey's policy not to contact the Iraqi Kurdish leader underlining that "There's no political ground for a dialogue. What would you talk to him about?" The official also mentioned the timing of Barzani's statements, saying that the Kurdish politician is trying to benefit from the strained relations between Turkey and United States, which were further strained when Turkey extended an invitation to Ismail Haniyah, Palestinian Prime Minister of Hamas.
Haniyah's shadow is also on Istanbul conference:
TDN has learned that the invitation to Haniyah also caused Turkey to lose the opportunity to host the international meeting in Istanbul. Frustrated by the invitation U.S. withdrew its support for Istanbul and backed Iraq's preference instead, sources familiar with issue told TDN.
Rice wanted re-fresh Turkey's hopes
During the phone conversation, Rice wanted to revive Turkey's hopes for an international conference on Iraq saying, “We will do our best to ensure the next meeting after Cairo will take place in Istanbul.” FM Gül, answering the reporters on Saturday in Bursa, said, “There are some difficulties about the meeting due to our presidential elections process and the delay of some other meetings concerning Iraq.”
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hosyhar Zebari made the statement about the venue and the meeting's date on Saturday in Baghdad. The aim of the meeting would be to engage Iraq's neighbors in constructively restoring security to the war-torn country, following up on an initial meeting in Baghdad last month and to reduce regional tension.
9 Abril 2007
