Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 16 april 2019
After IS war, Iraq seeks to reclaim status in Arab world

By ZEINA KARAM much as Iraq was increas-
QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA ingly pulled into Iran’s orbit
Associated Press in later years.
BAGHDAD (AP) — After Iraq needs much help and
decades of conflict, Iraq is investment to rebuild its cit-
seeking to reclaim a lead- ies — something it can only
ership role and status in the get from oil- and gas-rich
Arab world with a centrist Gulf countries, including
policy and a determination Saudi Arabia. But it can also
among the country’s top ill afford to alienate Iran,
leaders to maintain good which holds enormous po-
relations with both Iran and litical and military sway in
the United States. Iraq through powerful mili-
A flurry of recent diplomat- tias and pro-Iran politicians.
ic activity and high-profile “We have 1,400 kilometers
visits to the Iraqi capital, of borders with Iran, we sim-
including this month’s re- ply cannot ignore that real-
opening of a Saudi Consul- ity,” Salih said, adding that
ate in Baghdad — for the it’s in Iraq’s national interest
first time in nearly 30 years to nurture good relations
— points to a new era of with Iran, with which Iraq
openness as the nation fought an eight-year war
sheds its war image and re- in the ‘80s. He said Iraq,
engages with the world. In this March 11, 2019 file photo, Iraqi President Barham Salih, right, walks with visiting Iranian however, was also keen on
“Iraq is coming back to President Hassan Rouhani, before their meeting at Salam Palace in Baghdad, Iraq. good relations with Turkey,
the neighborhood,” Presi- Associated Press Saudi Arabia and other re-
dent Barham Salih told a ruinous three-year war the government’s central with the two as Baghdad gional countries.
The Associated Press in a against the Islamic State authority, and the coun- has strong ties with both Mindful of the need to
nearly hour-long interview group and faces the mam- try’s oil-based economy is countries. The dynamics counter Iran’s growing in-
last month. The veteran moth task of reconciling, suffering from wide-scale are complex. The Shiite- fluence in the region in the
politician laid out a vision rebuilding and returning corruption. majority country lies on the post-IS order, Saudi officials
centered on an “Iraq First” tens of thousands of dis- “Iraq’s path to reclaim- fault line between Shiite have sought closer ties with
policy, saying his country placed to their homes. And ing a leadership role in the Iran and the mostly Sunni Iraq, and last week sent a
can no longer afford to be while the extremists’ territo- Arab world will depend on Arab world, led by power- high-level delegation to
caught in regional disputes. rial “caliphate” has been how successful its leaders house Saudi Arabia, and Baghdad where the king-
“For almost four decades defeated in Iraq and Syria, are in tackling security and has long been a theater dom’s consulate was inau-
Iraq was the domain in the militants have now shift- economic challenges at in which Saudi-Iran rivalry gurated.
which everybody pursued ed to an insurgency cam- home,” Randa Slim, a se- for regional supremacy The Saudi delegation’s visit
their agenda at the ex- paign of targeted assassi- nior fellow at the Washing- played out. Relations have followed a trip to Bagh-
pense of the Iraqi people. nations, car bombings, and ton-based Middle East Insti- been particularly frosty dad last month by Iranian
It’s time we say we need suicide attacks. tute wrote recently. Amid with Riyadh, which broke President Hassan Rouhani
a new political order ... in The issue of Iran-backed rapidly escalating tensions relations with Baghdad fol- during which the two sides
which Iraq must be an im- Shiite militias who fought between the U.S. and Iran, lowing Saddam Hussein’s signed several agreement
portant pillar,” Salih said. IS alongside Iraqi security Iraq also needs to main- invasion of Kuwait in 1990 designed to boost bilateral
Iraq has emerged from forces poses a challenge to tain a delicate balance and never really warmed relations. q

UN says 146 killed in Libya as Italy calls for cease-fire

Associated Press Moammar Gadhafi. The oil- “We must prevent a hu-
BENGHAZI, Libya (AP) — rich North African country is manitarian crisis that would
At least 146 people have split between rival govern- be devastating, not only
been killed since a Liby- ments in the east and west. for the obvious impact on
an military commander Italy’s Prime Minister Gi- our country and the Euro-
launched an offensive useppe Conte called for pean Union,” Conte said.
on the capital earlier this an immediate cease-fire “It is also in the interest of
month, the U.N. said Mon- and the withdrawal of Hift- the Libyan population. We
day, as Italy called for an er’s forces, saying that a must never forget that in
immediate cease-fire and military campaign would cases of armed conflict,
the withdrawal of his forces. not bring stability. the civilians are the ones
The World Health Organiza- He spoke Monday after who bear the greatest con-
tion said 614 others have meeting with Qatar’s for- sequences.”
been wounded since the eign minister in Rome. Since 2011, Libya has be-
Field Marshal Khalifa Hifter’s “We hope and we are come a major conduit for
self-styled Libyan National Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte meets the media at Chigi working with full determina- African migrants fleeing
Army launched its offensive Palace premier office in Rome, Monday, April 15, 2019. tion to prevent a continu- war and poverty and seek-
on April 5. It did not specify Associated Press ation of military hostilities,” ing a better life in Europe.
whether those killed and weak U.N.-backed govern- displaced. The clashes Conte said, adding that Italy and other European
wounded were civilians or ment based in the capital, threaten to ignite civil war he has personally intensi- countries have provided
fighters. The fighting pits Tripoli. on the scale of the 2011 fied diplomatic contacts aid to Libyan authorities
the LNA against rival mili- The U.N. says more than uprising that toppled and to reach a political solu- to try and stem the flow of
tias loosely affiliated with a 13,500 people have been killed longtime dictator tion under U.N. auspices. migrants.q