Accessibility links

Breaking News

Iraqi Foreign Minister: Syria Not Doing Enough


Hoshyar al-Zebari (file photo) Washington, 2 June 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar al-Zebari has criticized Syria for failing to do enough to prevent insurgents from crossing the Iraqi-Syrian border to launch attacks inside Iraq.

Al-Zebari, speaking after talks in Washington yesterday with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, said, "We have recevied [from Syria] some assurances to the effect that there would be some positive change in their [the Syrians') attitude, in their dealing, but practically, we haven't seen much. Really, they have not been as cooperative as we want them to be."

Al-Zebari also appealed to the United States and its allies to remain committed to helping Iraq for at least the next few months as the Iraqi government builds its security forces and Iraqis write a constitution.

Al-Zebari offered assurances that all Iraqi communities, including the Sunni Arab minority, would participate in the constitutional process. Sunnis have been left with minimal representation in Iraqi politics because many of the community boycotted the 30 January elections.

Rice said she was "comfortable" with the commitment of the Iraqi government to involve Sunnis in the writing of the constitution.

(Reuters/AP/AFP, RFE/RL's Radio Free Iraq)

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG