Statement for Spokesman of Ministry of Foreign
Affairs on the Expulsion of Iraqi Diplomats

IRAQI MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

March 8, 2003

The US administration started wide-scale political, diplomatic and intelligent pressures on more than (60) states to take anti-Iraqi diplomatic stands.

A spokesman for US Department of State said that his administration asked those governments to expel Iraqi diplomats under flimsy pretexts, claiming that they formed a threat for US diplomats and institutions.

This aggressive move came within the US-Zionist imperialist campaign against Iraq to harm cordial relations with those countries.

The US authorities expelled two Iraqi diplomats working at the UN in a behavior which is incompatible with the international law, UN Charter and Vienna Convention.

It is to be mentioned that these authorities had expelled Iraqi News Agency (INA) correspondent last month for the same flimsy reasons.

The CIA had launched a wide campaign against Iraqi diplomats using various means of pressure and temptation to make them betray their country, but the diplomats foiled US endeavors and attempts, expressing their adherence to their homeland and brave leadership.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq stresses that all its diplomats abide by international laws and conventions, hoping that every country has to check US administration’s demands in order not to be a prey for such arrogant, evil and isolated administration.