Iraq, Iran: Rejection of Any Aggression on Syria

BAGHDAD,(ST)_ Foreign ministers of Iraq and Iran stressed  their countries  rejection of any aggression against Syria and the need avoid any confrontation or war in the region which  will have a negative impact on all  its countries .

The  Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif  said during a joint news conference with his Iraqi counterpart Hoshiar Zebari in Baghdad yesterday that any aggression on any country in the region would be against all its countries therefore all efforts  should be focused  to prevent it.

Zarif :  Those who want to start the war can not control its track nor put an end to it

“We are doing all our best to prevent any war in the region,  and  those who want to start a war can not control its  track nor put an end to it “, Zarif said, adding  , “we know that U.S. President Barack Obama was trapped  by others without his  personal desire and we hope he  will get out of it because such a  war is not in his  interest nor the interest of the countries of the region .”

Zarif noted that the region is witnessing  very sensitive conditions  and there must be consultation , cooperation and  sympathy  among its members to prevent a war in which all nations are looser .

Zarif  called on all countries and sides concerned to  ” pressure all parties to the crisis in Syria in order to sit at the table of dialogue to end the crisis , and  abide by the rules of international law , especially the inadmissibility of the use of force by any party” . He  expressed his  country ‘s  strong condemnation of  chemical weapons  use by any party , on the basis of its moral position .

Zarif  noted that Iran is keen  to  establish best good-neighborly relations with all neighboring countries , especially with Iraq because the two countries are important in the region and  their bilateral relations should be very strong and consolidated  increasingly , pointing out that the stability and progress of Iraq is the stability and progress of Iran and the Iranian side seeks to  have progress , peace and security maintained  among all countries in the region .

Zebari: Efforts to prevent any confrontation or war in the region

For his part, Iraqi Foreign Minister  stressed that Iraq will not be a base  of any aggression on Syria  , will not provide any facilities for any attack and is working with a number of States and Parties to emphasize the need for a peaceful solution to the crisis in Syria by the Syrians themselves .

“Iraq and Iran agreed on the importance of preventing and avoiding  any confrontation or war in the region ” , Zebari said ,  expressing Iraq ‘s condemnation in the strongest terms the use of chemical weapons by anyone because it would cause more tragedy and the suffering of the Syrian people.

He explained : ” we made visits to the US  , Europe and do not know  any time  set for any military strike or war . We briefed  the other parties on our vision and views that the aggravation  and escalation of the crisis in Syria would  directly affect  Syria ‘s neighboring countries, including Iraq .”

” In light of the escalation of military action against Syria , Iraq has taken a series of precautionary security measures along the common border in providing  food, medicine and needed supply services.” He stressed

Zebari considered that launching  any aggression on Syria ” will delay the convening  of the International Conference on Syria in Geneva and complicate political action.”

Zebari pointed out that the Iranian and Iraqi sides discussed ways of activating bilateral relations during the  meetings of the Political Consultation Committee and the Joint Ministerial Committee , the Joint Higher Committee and through the exchange of visits .

He explained that the two sides discussed issues related to land and river borders and the issue of cleaning the Shatt al – Arab and stimulate trade and economic exchanges and agreed on a number of practical steps .

Najafi : All Iraqi forces agree that any military aggression on Syria will  Complicate Conditions in the Region

For his part, the Speaker of the  Iraqi Parliament Osama Najafi  stressed that all forces and parties in Iraq  have agreed that any military aggression on Syria will not be for the good of the  region , but will make things in it  more difficult.

In a press conference yesterday he said  that ” any military strike against Syria will not be helpful  for it , rather will ignite fire  that can be extended to Iraq and neighboring countries and that  Iraq is not  ready to be a party to such a war ,” calling on everyone to take the path of peace .

He underlined   that the crisis in Syria must be resolved ” peacefully in a way that  saves  the Syrian people future and the  capabilities and potential of Syria from destruction , adding that  the road to democracy is clear , which is giving  the Syrian people  the option to choose and  determine the future of their country .”

Najafi stressed the importance of continued  contacts between the countries of the region at all levels in order to bring the views and understanding  together, to  draw the future of the region and to find peaceful solutions to the problems and ease sectarian tension ,  and eliminate the  evil that threatens the whole  region .

T. Fateh