Bulletin de liaison etd'information - Institut kurde de Paris

Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro
de la Prensa-Baszn Ozeti
The conference is aimed to foster dialogue and tolerance between Islamic and European Nations, following the
September 11 attacks against the United States. But soon after the meeting began, the United States came under
veIbal attack from various Islamic foreign ministers angry over the U.S. approach to fighting terrorism and its
position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Some of the harshest words came from Iran's foreign minister, Kamal Kharazi, who accused the United States of
what he called a unilateral and militarist approach to world affairs. He also accused the U.S. government of embarking
on "a misguided campaign of misinformation and allegations against other countries."
Mr. Kharamzi was referring to recent remarks by President George Bush describing Iran, as well as Iraq and North
Korea, as countries that make up an axis of evil that threatens the peace of the world. Iraq's foreign minister, Naji
Sabri, said the United States and Britain were guilty of state terrorism for their bombing of Iraqi territory. The Iraqi
foreign minister added that he hoped Turkey would do its utmost to help avert U.S. military action against his
country.
His remarks came shortly after Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit repeated his government's firm opposition to
any attack against Iraq. He said such action would destabilize not only Turkey, but also the region as a whole.
The conference, which is being hosted by Turkey, brings together ministers and officials from more than 70
European, Arab, Asian, and African nations that belong to the European Union or the Organization of the Islamic
Conference. Turkey became the first Muslim-majority country to be added to the EU list of official candidates in
1999. It is a founding member of the Ole. No delegation from the United States is at the conference.
Another issue raised was the violence between Israelis and Palestinians.
The foreign ministers agreed on the need for what EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana termed a two-state solution
to the conflict that would foresee the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
The U.S. government, which is mediating between the Palestinians and the Israelis, is said to be opposed to the
plan. Instead, it prefers a step-by-step approach, starting with the resumption of peace talks between Israelis and
Palestinians. But amid all the anti-U.S. rhetoric there were also calls for peace between Islamic and Western nations
and agreement on the need to combat all forms of terrorism.
Mr. Solana said the European Union is determined to reject the association of Islam with terrorism. Developing
harmony between East and West, he added, will mean more than the prevention of conflicts. He said it would
mean identifying the gaps in mutual perceptions and being willing to openly debate differences between East and
West.
*****
As US targets Iraq, key rebels balk In rare interview,
SCIRlleader rejects the "Afghan model" of intervention.
By Scott Peterson The Christian Science Monitor February 13,2002
TEHRAN, IRAN - The Bush adminstration is accelerating development of plans to topple Iraqi leader Saddam
Hussein. But the leader of one of the few credible armed Iraqi opposition groups says he doesn't want
Washington's help. "There is no need to send troops from outside to Iraq," says the black-turbaned Ayatollah
Mohammad Bakr al-Hakkim, leader of the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI). "It could be
seen as an invasion and could create new problems."
Though courted for months by American diplomats to join in their effort to overthrow Mr. Hussein, Ayatollah al-
Hakkim also commander of the 10,OOO-strongBadr Brigade militia - urges caution in a rare interview. The chief
reason is President Bush's declaration that SCIRI'S host and sponsor, Iran, is part of an "axis of evil," as well as the
past experience of the Iraqi opposition with "unreliable" US support.
The "Afghan model" of backing proxy forces, as the US did against the Taliban late last year, does not apply to Iraq,
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