DUBAI, Nov 2: The US ambassador to Baghdad urged Arab states on Friday to reopen their embassies in Iraq to counter Iran’s “negative” influence in the war-torn nation.

“Many in this region are concerned about negative Iranian influence in Iraq. One of the best ways to counter that is for Arab states to be on the ground and active in a positive way,” Ryan Crocker told reporters in the United Arab Emirates at the end of a Middle East tour.

Crocker said he discussed with officials in Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar and the UAE “the importance of finding ways to reopen Arab embassies in Baghdad” and post ambassadors there.

“It’s important for the Arab states to be present in a positive way to reinforce Iraq’s own sense of deep attachment to the Arab world,” he said.

Crocker also said that US foreign service officers have a duty to serve in Iraq if asked, amid an outcry in Washington over forced duty there.

“As we set about this effort to staff Iraq, it’s good for all of my colleagues to remember that we raised our right hands when we entered the service and we swore an oath... to support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies,” the envoy said. “It certainly doesn’t mean you get to decide which fight” to get into, he said.

“When we have truly great challenges like Iraq, our job is not to decide if we like the policy... Our commitment is to go forward and serve,” Crocker said.

“That’s, in my mind, simply a condition of service. You don’t debate it, you don’t argue over it. You’re entitled to your own views, but... you’re under an oath to serve, and people need to just go forward and do that.” Crocker conceded that Iraq is a “dangerous place” and that US diplomats “run a risk” when posted there.

But he said they also run a risk in other places like Afghanistan and Pakistan, and backed assertions by other US officials that the situation in Iraq was improving.

“We’ve seen the dramatic changes over the last couple of months in Anbar (province) to the west,” Crocker said.

“We’ve seen literally tens of thousands of young men who previously may have been involved in supporting anti-coalition and anti-Iraqi government insurgencies now step forward and say ‘we want to fight with you and not against you’.” US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Thursday made a worldwide appeal for US diplomats to serve in Iraq following uproar over new rules forcing them to work there or risk dismissal.—AFP