IRAQ: Arab League's Elaraby meets with Iraqi leaders, urges Syria to sign a peace plan as soon as possible to avert economic sanctions

Record ID: 280084

  • Title: IRAQ: Arab League's Elaraby meets with Iraqi leaders, urges Syria to sign a peace plan as soon as possible to avert economic sanctions
  • Date: 9th December 2011
  • Summary: BAGHDAD, IRAQ (DECEMBER 8, 2011) (AGENCY POOL) EGYPTIAN AIRLINER CARRYING ARAB LEAGUE SECRETARY GENERAL, NABIL ELARABY, TAXIING ON TARMAC IRAQI OFFICIALS WAITING ARAB LEAGUE DELEGATION DISEMBARKING FROM PLANE ELARABY, IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER HOSHIYAR ZEBARI AND OTHER DELEGATES WALKING ON TARMAC (*** FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ***) ELARABY AND ZEBARI ENTERING PRIME MINISTER'S OF
  • Embargoed: 24th December 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Iraq
  • Country: Iraq
  • Reuters ID: LVAAHU89GW3V6UPGIKGB8389IMPF
  • Story Text: Syria should sign an Arab League-proposed peace plan as soon as possible if it wants to avert economic penalties from Arab states over its eight-month crackdown on protesters, the head of the Arab League said on Thursday (December 8).
    Arab League Secretary General Nabil Elaraby said he held talks with senior officials in Iraq, which borders Syria, to "explore whether the Iraqi government is willing to exert its influence with Syria" to agree to the Arab plan.
    Elaraby added that if Syria wishes to stop the economic sanctions it must sign the peace plan.
    Speaking alongside Elaraby, Iraqi Foreign Minister, Hoshiyar Zebari, reaffirmed Iraq's commitment to the Arab League initiative.
    "We reaffirmed to his excellency, the secretary-general, that the Iraqi government, on its part, will make its efforts with the Syrian government to lower the hurdles in front of this noble initiative," Zebari said.
    Already hit by economic sanctions imposed by the United States and Europe, Syria now faces further sanctions from neighbouring Arab nations in response to its violent crackdown on protests against President Bashar al-Assad.
    Syria's neighbours Turkey and Jordan are calling on Assad to step down, with Ankara imposing 30 percent duty on imports from Syria in retaliation for a similar tax imposed on Turkish goods.
    Iraq, however, has resisted sanctions against Damascus. Officials say they are worried unrest in Syria could spill over the border and upset Iraq's delicate sectarian balance.
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