As from March the Iraqi government is promoting a series of meetings that should see the major countries of the region discussing the security situation in Iraq. The United States will be conspicuous by its absence but it has “backed” the Baghdad initiative.

Baghdad (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Iraq invited officials from Iran, Syria, and other neighboring nations to Baghdad next month to discuss the security situation in the country, a government official said yesterday.

The Foreign Ministry official said the talks would be the first of 10 such meetings to take place in the Iraqi capital starting from March. Iran was the venue for the last meeting in July. Apart from Damascus and Teheran, Baghdad has also invited Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey to the discussions. The Arab League, Organization of Islamic Conference, and the United Nations also have been invited, too, the official said. The United States will not be there. But the Iraqi Ambassador in the US, Samir Shaker Mahmoud Sumaidy, said the initiative did not include any nation outside the region. In any case, Washington responded positively. “We support this efforts of the Iraqi government,” said Lou Fintor, spokesman of the US Embassy in Iraq.

The American and the Iraqi governments have accused Syria of allowing foreign fighters to cross into Iraq. America has accused Iran of supporting Shiite militias. Both countries deny the charges.

 

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