WORLD / Middle East |
Syria-Iraq resume diplomatic ties(AP)Updated: 2006-11-21 19:55
BAGHDAD, Iraq - After nearly a quarter-century of severed ties, Iraq on Tuesday resumed diplomatic relations with neighboring Syria - a move seen as a possible step toward stemming some of the unrelenting violence, which claimed another 100 lives.
The announcement of restored Iraqi-Syrian ties came during a groundbreaking visit to Baghdad by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem. "The latest talks between the Syrian and Iraqi side have been crowned by declaring a new era with the participation of the Syrian brothers in working on the security and stability with Iraq and restoring full diplomatic relations," said Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh. Syria broke diplomatic ties with Iraq in 1982, accusing Iraq of inciting riots by the banned Muslim Brotherhood in Syria. Damascus also sided with Iran in the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war. Trade ties were restored in 1997. More recently, Syria is widely believed to have done little to stop foreign fighters and al-Qaida recruits from crossing its border to join Sunni insurgents in Iraq. It also has provided refuge for many top members of Saddam's former leadership and political corps, which is thought to have organized arms and funding for the insurgents. The Sunni insurgency, since it sprang to life in the late summer of 2003, has been responsible for the vast majority of US deaths in Iraq. On Monday, Moallem was challenged over Damascus' role in supporting the Sunni insurgency. "We object to any neighboring country that allows itself to be a base or a
transit point for the terrorist groups that harm Iraq," Iraqi Prime Minister
Nouri al-Maliki said after meeting with the Syrian envoy.
|
|