Iraqi amb. says no confirmation from Riyadh to attend summit – paper

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Ambassador in Riyadh Ghanem al-Jameli said that Baghdad has not received a Saudi confirmation to attend the Arab summit in late March until now, al-Sharq al-Awsat news paper said on Wednesday. “Riyadh received the invitation through Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal,” al-Gameli told al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper. He underlined the importance of unifying efforts between the two countries to face their challenges,” he added. He said that the Iraqi-Saudi borders considered one of the safest borders for Baghdad. “The economic file is promising,” the diplomat said, underlining that Saudi exports to Iraq in 2011 reached $1.3 billion, noting that Baghdad does not export anything to Riyadh. Last Sunday, Culture Minister Saadoun al-Dulaimi conveyed a message and an invitation from Iraqi President Jalal Talabani to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia during a meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal. SH (TI)/SR 905