AL urges more active Arab presence in Iraq

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: An Arab League (AL) official on Saturday underlined the need to have a “more active” Arab presence in Iraq. The statements were made by Hani Khallaf, the representative of the AL Secretary General, during a meeting with Iraqi First Deputy Speaker Khaled al-Attiya in Baghdad today to discuss recent political developments in Iraq, according to a parliament’s press release. “The AL wants to back national reconciliation and help Iraq build its institutions through the expertise available in the Arab nations as well as enhance economic ties between Iraq and its Arab brothers,” Khallaf was quoted in the release as received by IraqiNews.com. The statement also quoted Attiya as saying that some “countries’ doubts and lack of confidence that emerged after the fall of the former regime have started to vanish,” reiterating Iraq’s wish to have close relations with all Arab countries. AmR (P) 1