IRAQ'S FOREIGN MINISTER URGED ARAB COUNTRIES TUESDAY TO GIVE HIS COUNTRY MORE DIPLOMATIC AND ECONOMIC SUPPORT, NOT JUST TALK ABOUT IT. SPEAKING TO DEUTSCHE PRESSE-AGENTUR DPA ON THE MARGINS OF THIS WEEK'S ARAB SUMMIT, HOSHYAR ZEBARI SAID IRAQ WOULD LIKE 'MORE INVOLVEMENT' BY ARAB STATES. 'THERE IS A NEED FOR AN ENHANCED ROLE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE THROUGH A NUMBER OF PRACTICAL MEASURES, NOT VERBAL COMMITMENT,' HE ADDED. HE ALSO URGED ARABS TO GIVE HIS COUNTRY ECONOMIC AID, WRITE OFF ITS DEBTS AND ENCOURAGE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN IRAQ. WITH THE INCREASED KIDNAPPINGS AND RANDOM TARGETING OF CIVILIANS BY IRAQI MILITANTS, SECURITY HAS BECOME A SERIOUS CONCERN EVEN FOR ARAB DIPLOMATS, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE SLAYING OF FORMER EGYPTIAN AMBASSADOR IHAB AL-SHERIF. BUT ZEBARI SAID HE BELIEVES THAT SECURITY CONCERNS SHOULD NOT HOLD BACK ARABS FROM LAUNCHING DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS IN IRAQ, ADDING THAT TURKEY AND IRAN ALREADY HAVE REPRESENTATIVES IN IRAQ AND ARE PROVIDING FOR THEIR SECURITY. 'THERE IS NO PERFECT SECURITY ANYWHERE BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS IF THEY (ARABS) WOULD LISTEN TO US, THEY WOULD HAVE A BETTER SECURITY. BESIDES, CAN'T THEY (ARAB STATES) PROVIDE 10 OR 15 SECURITY PERSONNEL, FOR INSTANCE?' ZEBARI STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS, SAYING THEY WOULD THWART EFFORTS BY SOME TO UNDERMINE THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT AND WERE CENTRAL TO THE SECURITY OF OTHER ARAB STATES. ONE WAY THE ARABS COULD IMPROVE IRAQ'S SITUATION IS BY CONTROLLING THEIR BORDERS, HE SAID. 'I HAVE A SAYING THAT ARABS HAVE SUFFERED BEFORE FROM AFGHAN ARABS WHO CAME BACK FROM AFGHANISTAN. THIS TIME THEY WILL SUFFER FROM IRAQI ARABS WHO WILL GET TRAINING IN IRAQ,' ZEBARI SAID. AN INCREASED ARAB ROLE IN IRAQ WOULD ALSO BE WELCOMED BY ORDINARY IRAQIS, HE SAID. 'IRAQIS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS IN THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH, IN NAJJAF AND BAGHDAD, WELCOME THE MISSION OF THE ARAB LEAGUE,' ZEBARI TOLD DPA.
