Syria's al-Assad: Iraqi polls 'key' to bettering Iraqi-Syrian ties

Damascus - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday said Iraq's parliamentary elections were "key" to restoring "harmony" in ties between the neighbors. He made the comments after meeting Iraqi Vice-President Tariq al- Hashimi. The comments also come as Iraqi relations with its neighbors become a campaign issue ahead of the March 7 parliamentary vote.

The Syrian president said he hoped "that the upcoming elections would be key to a thorough restoration of Iraq's security and the return of harmony between its peoples."

Syria wants "the best relations with Iraq," al-Assad said in a statement released by his office. "(Syria) supports Iraq's people, its security, stability, and territorial integrity."

The Iraqi vice-president is scheduled to meet representatives of Syria's 800,000-strong Iraqi population later on Tuesday.

Al-Hashimi, a Sunni Muslim, last year threatened to boycott the law covering the polls if expatriate Iraqis, most of whom are thought to be Sunnis, were not guaranteed a larger share of seats in the new parliament.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's political rival, former prime minister Ayad Allawi, is expected in Syria on Thursday, according to Syrian media reports.

The former prime minister last week defended his recent tour of Arab states against criticism from members of al-Maliki's State of Law coalition, who accused Allawi of seeking funds for his election campaign.

"Some of those in power wanted to make a fuss over my trip to Arab countries," Allawi said, calling suggestions the trip was related to the elections the product of "deluded minds."

"These deluded (people) want to isolate Iraq from its Arab surroundings," Allawi said.

Al-Hashimi, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, and Shiite Iraqi Vice- President Adil Abdel-Mahdi all publicly rebuked al-Maliki after the prime minister accused Syria of not doing enough to stop Iraqi Baathists in Syria from plotting August bombings in central Baghdad that killed more some 100 people and injured more than 500.

Syria and Iraq each withdrew their ambassadors to the other as al- Maliki's government called for a UN investigation into Syrian links to the explosions.

By contrast, al-Maliki on Sunday said Iraq's relationship with Syria was "heading for the better."

"As the atmosphere improves, there is less need to talk about international courts. There are more shared interests to bring the two countries closer than there are reasons for souring the relationship," he said.

"We welcome a return of good relations between all Arab and Islamic countries and the efforts in that direction since stability has been achieved," al-Maliki said Sunday.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/312060,syrias-al-assad-iraqi-polls-key-to-bettering-iraqi-syrian-ties.html.