Shows ya what an old fashioned Fallujah ass kicking will do.>>
[size=+1]IRAN AND SYRIA CONDEMN THE INSURGENCY IN IRAQ[/size]
<SMALL>Times Online ^| 11/23/04</SMALL>
<TABLE><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>
Jack Straw tonight hailed a new mood of international unity on Iraq after a gathering of key foreign ministers endorsed the elections set for January 30.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD id=mpuHeader></TD></TR><TR align=right><TD align=right></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>The conference in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, which brought together the G8 group of industrialised nations, Iraq’s neighbours and the Arab League - issued a final communique condemning terrorist violence and supporting the democratic process.
"It shows that there is a real desire in the Arab world and key countries in the international community to look forward and not back and to see this is now a shared problem," the Foreign Secretary said.
The conference was attended by many of the leading critics of the US-led war in Iraq, including France, Germany, Russia, Iran and Syria. Present were the representatives of 20 nations, including Iraq's six neighbors, and bodies such as the Group of Eight, the European Union and the Arab League, who came to this Red Sea resort to discuss Iraq's future.
The conference rebuffed calls from France and some Arab states to set a deadline for withdrawing the US-led forces. But the final communique, which was approved unanimously, said pointedly that their mandate was "not open-ended."
The communique condemned "all acts of terrorism in Iraq," referring particularly to the kidnappings and assassinations of foreign and Iraqi civilians, aid workers, diplomats and journalists. It urged the interim government to deal firmly with terrorists, but also to avoid hurting civilians.
British officials hope that the support of countries like Iran and Syria for the declaration will demonstrate to insurgents in Iraq that the international community is now united by the political process that is under way.
Mr Straw rejected suggestions that the elections would lead to more violence, although he acknowledged that there remained serious concerns over security.
"If we get through the elections, far from being a catalyst for more violence, they will put us on the road to a reduction in violence," he said.
"It is still going to be difficult. There is a big security challenge, particularly in the central area of Iraq."
He was backed by the foreign minister in Iraq’s interim government, Hoshyar Zebari.
"We are sending a clear message to the Iraqi people that the member states and multinational organisations of the international community stand together, and firmly behind us, in our efforts to move Iraq along the path towards democratic elections," he said. However Kofi Annan, the United Nations Secretary General, warned that it was important to bring the "broadest possible spectrum of Iraqi opinion" into the political process, amid fears of a boycott by Sunni Muslims. Meanwhile British troops today co-operated with US and Iraqi forces in Iraq in a rare joint operation aimed at clearing out centres of unrest south of Baghdad.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
[size=+1]IRAN AND SYRIA CONDEMN THE INSURGENCY IN IRAQ[/size]
<SMALL>Times Online ^| 11/23/04</SMALL>
<TABLE><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>
Jack Straw tonight hailed a new mood of international unity on Iraq after a gathering of key foreign ministers endorsed the elections set for January 30.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD id=mpuHeader></TD></TR><TR align=right><TD align=right></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>The conference in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, which brought together the G8 group of industrialised nations, Iraq’s neighbours and the Arab League - issued a final communique condemning terrorist violence and supporting the democratic process.
"It shows that there is a real desire in the Arab world and key countries in the international community to look forward and not back and to see this is now a shared problem," the Foreign Secretary said.
The conference was attended by many of the leading critics of the US-led war in Iraq, including France, Germany, Russia, Iran and Syria. Present were the representatives of 20 nations, including Iraq's six neighbors, and bodies such as the Group of Eight, the European Union and the Arab League, who came to this Red Sea resort to discuss Iraq's future.
The conference rebuffed calls from France and some Arab states to set a deadline for withdrawing the US-led forces. But the final communique, which was approved unanimously, said pointedly that their mandate was "not open-ended."
The communique condemned "all acts of terrorism in Iraq," referring particularly to the kidnappings and assassinations of foreign and Iraqi civilians, aid workers, diplomats and journalists. It urged the interim government to deal firmly with terrorists, but also to avoid hurting civilians.
British officials hope that the support of countries like Iran and Syria for the declaration will demonstrate to insurgents in Iraq that the international community is now united by the political process that is under way.
Mr Straw rejected suggestions that the elections would lead to more violence, although he acknowledged that there remained serious concerns over security.
"If we get through the elections, far from being a catalyst for more violence, they will put us on the road to a reduction in violence," he said.
"It is still going to be difficult. There is a big security challenge, particularly in the central area of Iraq."
He was backed by the foreign minister in Iraq’s interim government, Hoshyar Zebari.
"We are sending a clear message to the Iraqi people that the member states and multinational organisations of the international community stand together, and firmly behind us, in our efforts to move Iraq along the path towards democratic elections," he said. However Kofi Annan, the United Nations Secretary General, warned that it was important to bring the "broadest possible spectrum of Iraqi opinion" into the political process, amid fears of a boycott by Sunni Muslims. Meanwhile British troops today co-operated with US and Iraqi forces in Iraq in a rare joint operation aimed at clearing out centres of unrest south of Baghdad.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Last edited:
