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Arab summit to be held in Baghdad on time - Iraq

BAGHDAD, Feb 22 (KUNA) -- Iraq is fully committed to the decisions of the Arab League Secretariat regarding the coming Arab summit, due here in late March, government spokesman Ali Al-Dabbagh said Tuesday evening.
Commenting on recent reports that Libya, the current presidency of the summit, decided to postpone the gathering due to the ongoing upheavals in the region, Al-Dabbash said such decision was not based on Arab consensus.
He made the remarks in the joint press conference here with spokesman of the Baghdad Operation Command Maj.-Gen. Qassem Ata.
"The stage is set for the summit which will take place on time; this is what the League secretariat concluded," he affirmed.
"A decision to postpone the summit should be made unanimously; no country can make it unilaterally. Many of the previous summit meetings were held at times of crises such as the summit hosted by Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in the wake of the invasion by the deposed Iraqi regime of Kuwait," Al-Dabbagh argued, adding that there is no justification to put off the coming event.
Dealing with the domestic situation where large protests are being organized in several parts of Iraq, the spokesman said Iraqi got rid of dictatorship and proceeds towards real democratic order.
"What is happening in Iraq is not a duplication of incidents in other countries. The constitution and political system of Iraq enshrine the freedom of expression and protect the citizens and the gains of the people," Al-Dabbagh said.
Though not wary of the demonstrations due to its confidence in the awareness of the Iraqi people, the Iraqi government is concerned about the safety of citizens no more, he affirmed.
None of the organizers of the demonstrations, slated for Friday, seeks to topple the ruling regime or promote sectarianism; all of them press for improving the living conditions and public services, he said, citing the calls posted on Facebook and Twitter.
He added that the government sent delegations to major advocates of the demonstrations and civil society institutions to listen to their demands as a prelude to finding suitable and urgent solutions in coordination with the concerned departments. (end) mhg.gb KUNA 222358 Feb 11NNNN