|
Iran, Syria discuss US strike on Iraq ''consequences''
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Saturday discussed with Iranian Intelligence Minister Ali Yunesi the "consequences" of a US military strike on Iraq, the official SANA news agency reported. During the meeting Assad and Yunesi underscored the "importance of Syrian-Iranian coordination to face up to the consequences of an American strike on Iraq," the agency said.Since the consequences will probably lead to the fall of both regimes... Yunesi arrived Friday in Damascus and is due to meet with other Syrian officials. Syria and Iran are firmly opposed to a US-led attack on their neighbour, notably because of possible refugee problems or uprisings by their sizeable Kurdish minorities. Iraq's Kurds say they want a federal set-up in any post-Saddam Hussein Iraq, and deny they are seeking independence, but their neighbours are still nervous. Even with a federal state, the Kurds will still be living in something approximating a liberal democracy. The Syrians and the Medes and the Persians are afraid it might be catching. If they're not, they should be... Syrian Foreign Minister Faruq al-Shara reiterated his country's position in talks earlier Saturday with visiting Arab League chief Amr Mussa, saying an attack on Iraq was unacceptable after Baghdad agreed last month to an unconditional return of UN arms inspectors. It is necessary to "strengthen the role of the United Nations so that it becomes the framework and reference for solving international conflicts," Shara said, according to SANA. That way they can be talked about for year after year, with nothing ever being done. Ever. Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2002-10-20 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=7422 |