Premier reiterates Jordan's opposition to attack on Iraq

PETRA (Jordan State News Agency)

SOURCE: Iraq Daily, Iraq Information Ministry

July 16, 2002

Prime Minister Ali Abul Ragheb and visiting Arab League Secretary General Amr Musa discussed the latest developments in the Palestinian territories, the related joint Arab action and the Iraqi issue.

Abul Ragheb stressed the need for joint Arab action to activate the Arab peace initiative adopted by the Arab summit in Beirut in March and to re-launch political negotiations between the Palestinians and the ‘Israelis’.

He also discussed with Musa media reports expecting a US attack on Iraq and reiterated Jordan's stand rejecting any military action against Iraq or any other Arab state.

The premier renewed official denial of recent news reports alleging that Jordanian territories will be used as a launch-pad by US forces in an expected offensive against Iraq. He also denied as baseless reports claiming US troops were stationed in Jordan.

For his part, the Arab League chief said that he was totally convinced that Jordan, and the other Arab countries, are fully committed to resolutions of the Arab summit at which Arab leaders declared their opposition to any military action against any of the league's member states.

The performance of the Arab League and ways to upgrade it were also on the meeting's agenda.

Musa reviewed ideas he has put forward in this regard, calling for Jordan's support for plans to improve the work of the league and that of affiliated Arab joint action agencies.

Abul Ragheb said at the meeting, which was attended by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Acting Foreign Minister Shaher Bak, that Arab countries' commitment to the league's socio-economic and cultural plans is a prerequisite to ensure an active joint action.

Musa told reporters after the meeting that the pan-Arab organization and its 22 members were opposed to any US strike on Iraq.

“The Arab League is a gathering of Arab countries and our Arab position is clear and Prime Minister Abul Ragheb also made it clear at his press conference on Thursday. We cannot back any attack on Iraq or on any Arab country,” he said, adding that the Kuwaiti government takes the same stand.

Musa arrived earlier Sunday in Jordan to attend a ceremony to declare Amman as Cultural Capital of the Arab World — a title bestowed on the city by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation for 2002.