Qaboos, Ibrahim discuss regional, bilateral issues

His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman and Iraqi Vice-President Izzat Ibrahim discussed here yesterday the situation in the region and bilateral relations.

"The two sides exchanged views on strengthening cooperation between the two countries," an official statement broadcast by Oman Television said.

Present at the meeting was Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmood Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers Affairs, who had earlier welcomed Ibrahim at Salalah Civil Airport.

Ibrahim, the most senior Iraqi official to visit Oman after the Gulf War, received a warm welcome by Omani officials. He is paying a two-day visit to the Sultanate as part of his regional tour to rally opposition against any possible U.S. attacks against Iraq.

Ibrahim was accompanied by Dr Naji Sabri, Foreign Minister, Mohammed Riffat Ali al Anani, Head of the Iraqi Interests Department in Damascus and other senior officials.

Oman, which retained diplomatic links with Iraq after the Gulf War, has made it clear many a time that any U.S. strike against Iraq would complicate the situation and destablise the region and all efforts should be channelised towards finding a fair, just and durable solution of the lingering Palestine-Israel conflict based on the UN resolutions and international pacts.

Oman also remains a vociferous campaigner for the lifting of the UN sanctions against Iraq in order to alleviate the sufferings of the Iraqi people. At the same time, Oman wants Iraq to honour all the UN resolutions in letter and spirit.

"Iraq has become an obsession for Washington," a senior Asian diplomat who has specialised in the Middle East affairs, told Gulf News.

"It's time President George W. Bush rearranged his priorities and focused on the Palestinians' plight in the face of the growing Israeli brutalities rather than harping on the new-found theme of 'the axis of evil'".

He said to equate Iraq with Afghanistan in terms of the U.S.-led campaign to uproot terrorism was going too far.

"It is bound to backfire, judging by not only the mood of the Arab and the Muslim world but the entire international community."

Another political analyst said all eyes are fixed on Beirut, the site for the March 27-28 Arab Summit. "Here is a golden opportunity for Arabs to display an untold unity to counter the enemy and make up for the loss of the past."