By Mubarak Al-Enezi
BAGHDAD, Aug 26 (KUNA) -- Former Iraqi Prime Minister Dr. Iyad Allawi has stressed that Arab relations with Iraq are in the bottom of the political priorities of the Iraqi government.
Allawi said during a meeting with the visiting Kuwait Journalists Association delegation recently in the Iraqi capital Baghdad that the Arabs sided with Iraq and with the people of Iraq and the Arab-Arab issues can be resolved in an easy and simple dialogue.
He Added that "When I visit the Gulf and Arab countries I feel like visiting Baghdad".
He stressed that Iraq can be a bridge of communication between the Arab and Muslim nations, thanks to its location and for having borders with Iran and Turkey, the two most important Muslim and Arab nations, besides having different segments of society.
Allawi hoped relations between Iraq and its Arab world can progress even further for the best interest of both sides.
He said, "I do not have a hostile attitude towards Iran, but I'm fully against the Iranian interference in the internal affairs of Iraq," adding that he believes in the mutual benefits, respect for sovereignty and privacy as well as non-interference of internal affairs of states.
He said that he appreciates the position taken by the US with Iraq to fight the so-called Islamic State or (Daesh), stressing that what the US privides for Iraq was not insignificant militarily and logistically, but "I also do not want it to interfere in Iraq's internal affairs".
And about the internal situation of Iraq, Allawi noted that he was optimistic because the Iraqi people of all sects began to go out in huge demonstrations pervaded all of Iraq's provinces raising slogans he had adopted since more than 10 years, demanding a civil state, rejection of sectarian quotas, political sectarianism and the politicization of religion and this is evidence that the Iraqi people began to feel the problems that have plagued Iraq.
He said that wiping out the so-called Islamic State (Daesh) opens a window to the future, but there must be a plan and a road map for the next phase.
The Kuwaiti delegation included President of the Kuwait Journalists Association Adnan Al-Rashid, Deputy Director General for Editorial Sector and Editor-in-Chief of Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) Saad Al-Ali, head of local department in Kuwaiti daily Al-Qabas Ibrahim Al-Saidi and other journalists.(end).
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