Monday, July 04, 2005
Saudi Arabia to re-establish ties with Iraq
Saudi Arabia is realizing that it is better off doing business with the Shiites in Baghdad than not.
Saudi Arabia and Egypt -- along with Kuwait and Jordan -- have now recognized the democratically elected government of Iraq. This recognition comes with the growing understanding that the "insurgency" in Iraq is decreasingly supported by Iraqi intransigents and increasingly by foreign jihadis, who represent a grave threat to all the existing Arab regimes. Credit George Bush or not (I obviously do), there is no denying that the American war in Iraq has pushed the royal Sunnis of Saudi Arabia and the democratic Shiites of Iraq together in the struggle against al Qaeda.
Saudi Arabia said yesterday it will resume diplomatic relations with Iraq even as Egypt’s envoy to Baghdad was reported kidnapped.
Dr. Saleh Al-Kohaimi, head of the Arab states department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the Kingdom was one of the four Arab states ready to send ambassadors to Baghdad. The two countries have decided to renew diplomatic ties after a break of 13 years.
Al-Kohaimi said the ambassador to Baghdad would be named shortly. He said the Kingdom would welcome the return of an Iraqi ambassador to Riyadh. “An Iraqi team is currently in Saudi Arabia doing repair and renovation works at the Iraqi Embassy, vacant since 1991,” Al-Kohaimi added.
Saudi Arabia and Egypt -- along with Kuwait and Jordan -- have now recognized the democratically elected government of Iraq. This recognition comes with the growing understanding that the "insurgency" in Iraq is decreasingly supported by Iraqi intransigents and increasingly by foreign jihadis, who represent a grave threat to all the existing Arab regimes. Credit George Bush or not (I obviously do), there is no denying that the American war in Iraq has pushed the royal Sunnis of Saudi Arabia and the democratic Shiites of Iraq together in the struggle against al Qaeda.
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