VP says roundtable proposal “good but premature”

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Vice President Tareq al-Hashimi termed as “good” a proposal to hold a roundtable meeting, adding “it is premature.” “When visions are clear regarding the formation of a new government, it would be then useful to hold a roundtable meeting with the other blocs,” Hashimi, who is also a leading member of Iyad Allawi’s al-Iraqiya bloc, was quoted in a statement by his office as received by IraqiNews.com news agency. The vice president received Allawi on Saturday evening and discussed steps that should be taken toward forming a government as well as the outcome of Hashimi’s recent tour that took him to Qatar and Bahrain. Hashimi noted that he would embark on visits to some neighboring countries this week to have deliberations about the future of relations between Iraq and its neighbors. AmR (P)/SR 2