DAMASCUS, Nov 2: Iraq’s six neighbours on Sunday condemned terrorist attacks against civilians and said they would secure their borders, amid US charges foreign militants were behind a wave of violence in postwar Iraq.
“(The ministers) condemn the terrorist bombings that target civilians, humanitarian and religious institutions, embassies and international organisations working in Iraq,” the closing statement after a two-day security meeting in Damascus said.
The foreign ministers of the six neighbours plus Egypt said they would work with Iraqi authorities to prevent violation of borders and stop violence from spreading, after US accusations that foreign militants were infiltrating Iraq.
The statement made no mention of persistent attacks on US occupation forces, which have claimed the lives of more than 125 US soldiers in the past six months.
Iraq’s neighbours, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iran, represent some of the world’s major oil exporting countries.
The Damascus meeting highlighted divisions among Middle East nations over Iraq, which shunned the talks, apparently insulted by a last-minute invitation.
The statement said the neighbours would meet again in Kuwait, and Iraq, which also did not attend three previous regional meetings, was welcome at those talks.
Concern about the impact of Iraq’s political future on their own security has driven Middle East nations to hold periodic meetings, despite decades of mutual mistrust and divisions over the US-led war that ousted Saddam.
Washington called on Syria and Iran last week to take action to stop the infiltration of “foreign terrorists” after a string of suicide bombings in Iraq that killed 35 people.
An Iranian foreign ministry spokesman said before the end of the talks that his country already has strict controls in place.
“We have said from the beginning our borders are under control and we do not allow any group to cross illegally into Iraq,” said Hamid Reza Asefi.
The ministers urged a timeline be put in place to end the occupation and transfer power to a sovereign Iraqi government.
“We should likewise try to help create conditions in the country that will shorten the time required for the foreign military presence,” Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said.
—Reuters
