Damascus, Nov 01: Foreign ministers of Iraq's neighbours began arriving here today for a regional meeting on the country's growing instability, but in Baghdad Hoshyar Zebari said he would boycott the talks. "The way the invitation has been extended was not in keeping with Iraq's dignity," interim Iraqi Foreign Minister Zebari told a press conference.
Syria had called the meeting of top diplomats from Iraq's neighbours to discuss the impact of the violence there on the region's stability, but had initially failed to invite Zebari because of its continued misgivings about the legitimacy of his US-installed administration.
Following a boycott threat by US allies Jordan, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, Syria agreed to an eleventh hour compromise whereby Zebari would take part in the formal talks but not in a brief informal preliminary meeting.
Although the move was welcomed by Jordan and Egypt, it was clearly not enough for the Iraqi minister.
"In the absence of a frank and clear invitation from the Syrian government for Iraq to participate in the Damascus meeting, it is impossible to take part," Zebari said.
"We do not accept any recommendations or decisions that come out of this meeting without Iraq's participation," he added. Bureau Report