VP: Iraq not to be base for offensives against neighbors

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraq will not be a base for any offensive acts against any of its neighboring countries, Iraqi Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi said from the Syrian capital. “Hashemi met with Syrian Vice President Farouk al-Sharaa in Damascus and stressed Iraqis’ keenness to safeguard Arab national security,” according to a statement released by his office and received by IraqiNews.com. Yesterday, Hashemi arrived in Syria after wrapping up a visit to Lebanon, where he met with Parliament’s Speaker Nabih Berri and the leader of the parliamentary majority, Saad al-Hariri. Sharaa and his deputy Mohamed Nassief received Hashemi at Damascus International Airport. Hashemi had arrived in Beirut last Monday coming from Ankara. SS (P) 1