Bush Sets Conditions for Iran and Syria to Mediate Iraq Talks

WASHINGTON, 8 December 2006 — A day after the leaders of the Iraq Study Group handed him its report, President George W. Bush met yesterday with his strongest ally in Iraq war, British Prime Minister Tony Blair. They met at the White House to discuss the war and the recommendations of the group, which bluntly states that the situation in Iraq is "grave and deteriorating and dire," and warned that even a sharp change of policy on Iraq may not avert a regional conflagration.

The two men had an unscheduled breakfast together and held rounds of meetings at the Oval Office in the White House before holding a joint question-and-answer session that lasted almost an hour.

Bush said that neither his administration nor Congress is going to "accept every recommendation" in the Iraq Study Group report, but admitted a "new approach" is needed, and said the report "discussed the way forward."

As for the panel's recommendation that the United States talk to Iran and Syria, both leaders said they have concerns. Blair called it a question of standing up for "the right principles," like not funding terrorists.

"Countries that participate in talks must not fund terrorism, must help the young democracy survive, must help with the economics of the country," Bush said. "If people are not committed, if Syria and Iran are not committed to that concept, then they shouldn't bother to show up."

Blair will launch a Middle East mission to show US and British commitment to ending the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

The Iraq Study Group said that Bush had to launch a new Middle East peace effort to give the United States renewed credibility in the region.

"Prime Minister Blair informed me that he will be heading to the Middle East soon, to talk to both the Israelis and the Palestinians," Bush said.

"I support the mission, because it's important for us to advance the cause of two states living side by side in peace and helping both parties eliminate the obstacles that prevent an agreement from being reached," Bush said.

Middle Eastern countries reacted differently to the report of the Iraq Study Group. While Israel rejected the group's conclusion that a concerted effort to resolve Israel's conflict with its neighbors will help stabilize the situation in Iraq, Syria called it encouraging. Iran said it was in no hurry to mediate.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said there was no connection between Israel's conflict with its neighbors and the situation in Iraq. Olmert also rebuffed the group's recommendation that Israel open negotiations with Syria, but said Israelis want "with all our might" to restart peace talks with the Palestinians.

The Iraq Study Group report, released Wednesday in Washington, calls for direct talks between Israel and its neighbors, Syria, Lebanon and the Palestinians and says resolving the Israeli-Arab conflict would improve conditions in Iraq.

Olmert rejected that finding. "The attempt to create a linkage between the Iraqi issue and the Mideast issue; we have a different view," Olmert said during the prime minister's annual meeting with Israeli journalists.

An official close to Syrian President Bashar Assad said Damascus was encouraged by the report. "We are pleased that the report ties the situation in Iraq with the rest of the region. Our view has been that what goes on in Iraq cannot be isolated from Syria, Palestine or Lebanon," Expatriates Minister Buthaina Shabaan said.

Article: MakeHeadline.com

By Barbara Ferguson, Arab News