Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Date=11/22/04

Type=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=EGYPT/IRAQ MEETING

NUMBER=2-320612

BYLINE=URSULA LINDSEY

DATELINE=SHARM EL SHEIKH, EGYPT

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

HEADLINE: Iraq Seeks Support from Neighbors at Regional Meeting

INTRO: Senior Iraqi officials sought support from neighbors Syria, Turkey, Iran, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait on Monday, the first day of an international conference in Egypt aimed at helping Iraq stabilize its security and organize elections, scheduled for the end of January. Ursula Lindsey reports from the Red Sea town of Sharm El Sheikh, where the conference is taking place.

TEXT: Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit chaired the meeting between Iraq and its neighboring countries Monday night.

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"The discussions that have taken place tonight revolved around discussion on elections, how to ensure the proper process of elections, as well as how to ensure the enforcement of the security of Iraq while the political process is proceeding."

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Deputy Iraqi Foreign Minister Labid Abbayi expressed his hopes for the meeting, several hours earlier.

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"We're talking about the support of the Iraqi political process, including elections, security matters -- this also is important -- and also the debts. We don't want to put pressure on anybody. We only ask everybody to control their borders and cooperate with us. "

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According to a high-level Iraqi official in Baghdad, the Iraqi delegation was planning to use the meeting to present information alleging that of some of its neighbors are interfering in its internal affairs. A draft of the conference's final statement calls on neighboring countries to secure their borders with Iraq and to prevent the passage of terrorists, weapons, and funding for terrorism. Iraqi and U.S. officials have been particularly critical of an alleged lack of border control by Iran and Syria -- where thousands of former Iraqi Baath Party officials now live.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry said Iran would "protest against the methods of the United States, insist on the necessity of withdrawing American troops from Iraq and the organization of elections on schedule."

In discussions leading up to the conference, some countries, such as France, lobbied to include a date for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. The current draft says the mandate of the U.S.-led coalition troops is "not open-ended," but sets no time limit.

After a meeting with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshar Zebari, Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa referred to U.N. Security Council resolution 1546, which some countries interpret as demanding a withdrawal date.

/ / / ACT MOUSSA ESTAB AND FADE UNDER / / /

Mr. Moussa said the Arab League has always talked about following a timeline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops and considered U.N. resolution 1546 as the basis of that. He also said he hopes the conference would help create a free and independent Iraq.

At this conference, Iraq is also raising the controversial issue of debt relief. On Sunday, the Paris Club -- made up of 19 of the world's wealthiest nations -- announced that it would forgive up to 80% of the 40-billion dollars Iraq owes its members. But Iraq also owes 80-billion dollars to other countries, especially Arab countries such as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Iraq wants all or most of that debt forgiven, too. Mr. Abbayi, the deputy Iraqi Foreign Minister, called on other countries to follow the example of the Paris Club members.

Perhaps because of their sensitivity, few details were revealed about the discussions on Monday. Only the opening remarks of Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Abul-Gheit were televised. The conference hall was surrounded by massive security, which kept reporters firmly away.

On Tuesday, Iraq and its neighbors will be joined in meetings by representatives of the Group of Eight industrialized nations, plus China, the United Nations, the European Union, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Arab League. The conference is expected to express its support of the upcoming elections in Iraq, which are now officially scheduled for January 30th. (SIGNED)

NEB/UL/AWP