INTERVIEW-Iraq will urge U.S., Iran not to use it as pawn
Source: Reuters
By Mariam Karouny BAGHDAD, March 9 (Reuters) - Iraq will urge Iran and the United States not to use Iraq as a playing field to settle their scores when the three countries meet at a regional conference in Baghdad on Saturday, Iraq's foreign minister said on Friday. Iraq has called the meeting to enlist support in stopping a slide into full-scale civil war but it is being closely watched as a rare opportunity for officials from Washington and Tehran to meet at a time of tension over Iran's nuclear ambitions. "We do not want Iraq to be the battleground to settle scores for other countries and for them to settle their scores with the United States here at our expense," Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari told Reuters in an interview. Asked whether he would make that point to officials from Washington and Tehran, he said: "Yes, we will do so." The conference will be attended by officials from Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United States and other regional countries and world powers. Zebari said it would be followed by meetings at a more senior level, at a date to be determined. "We don't want to raise expectations, one meeting will not solve the problems of my country," Zebari said. "But their very presence, having the meeting in Baghdad, is a major success for the government and for the people." "What do we expect from this? Really, some actions, not words. Not (just) statements of solidarity or support. That's why we have some developed some ideas of how to hold them to that," Zebari said. The United States accuses Iran and Syria of fomenting the insurgency in Iraq, where violence rages four years after U.S.-led forces invaded the country to topple former dictator Saddam Hussein. Syria and Iran deny the charge. The United States this week sent its clearest signal yet it is open to bilateral talks with Iran and Syria by saying it will not rebuff them if they wish to discuss stabilising Iraq.
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