The Arab League Secretary-General, Amr Moussa, said Saturday that the Arab states oppose an American strike on Iraq. Moussa was talking to reporters in Baghdad, following a meeting with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. This was the first visit of an Arab League Secretary General to Baghdad since the Iraqi invasion to Kuwait, over 11 years ago.
"President Saddam asked me to convey certain positions and certain points to the UN secretary general and to Arab leaders," Mussa told reporters after what he described as a "very positive" meeting. The messages he was charged to pass on to Kofi Annan and Arab leaders "deal with current and anticipated developments," the Arab League chief commented.
Moussa did not elaborate on the new Iraqi initiative but said: "The subject is very important and I may be able to speak about it in the future."
Moussa revealed his two-hour talks with the Iraqi leader covered "the international situation and Arab problems, chiefly the situation in Palestine, as well as the Arab summit" scheduled to take place in Beirut in March.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri said the discussions also touched on "Iraq's relations with Kuwait and the UN Security Council." Saddam "insisted on the need to (restore) Arab solidarity and find common ground among Arab leaders," Sabri said.
Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz earlier said Saddam would present to the Arab League Secretary-General his ideas to improve ties ahead of the upcoming Arab summit.
Iraq's proposals were "to establish good inter-Arab relations," Aziz told reporters after his own talks overnight with the secretary general. "Iraq is motivated by a sincere wish for reconciliation and inter-Arab solidarity," he said.
Moussa left Baghdad on Saturday evening. (Albawaba.com)
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