Saudis convene Gulf states over Iraqi threats, diplomatic offensive
Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Friday, April 6, 2001
ABU DHABI — Saudi Arabia is hosting a high-level meeting from Gulf
Cooperation Council states to discuss regional security and the Iraqi
threat.
The meeting is being headed by Saudi Defense Minister Prince Sultan Bin
Abdul Aziz. The session began on Wednesday in the city of Khafr Baaten and
is expected to end on late Thursday.
Arab diplomatic sources said the meeting is meant to discuss the Iraqi
diplomatic drive to end United Nations sanctions as well as threats by
Baghdad against Riyad and Kuwait. The sources said the Saudis were upset
that only Riyad and Kuwait confronted Iraqi demands last week for an
unconditional lifting of sanctions from the regime of President Saddam
Hussein.
The demand was made during the March 27 meeting in Amman by the Arab
League.
Those at the meeting include senior officials from Bahrain, Qatar,
Kuwait, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. One such official was Kuwaiti
Foreign Minister Sabah Ahmad Al Sabah.
Earlier, Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef said Saddam remains a
threat to all nations of the Gulf.
"The Iraqi regime repeats its threats [against Saudi Arabia and Kuwait]
and refuses the offers of those who want to put it back on the right track,"
Prince Nayef said.
In Paris, Qatari Emir Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani held talks with French
President Jacques Chirac regarding Iraq. Diplomatic sources said Chirac and
the emir also discussed military cooperation between Doha and Paris.
The Qatari emir is expected to join the GCC talks in a military base in
Khafr Baaten on Thursday.
The United States has resumed efforts to bolster the Iraqi opposition to
Saddam. The London-based Al Hayat daily said U.S. diplomats have met Iraqi
opposition elements in Damascus, London and Washington.
The newspaper said the Bush administration wants to include additional
groups into the U.S.-backed Iraqi National Council.
Friday, April 6, 2001
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