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Jordanian Source: We are part of the Intellectual Process to Solve the Iraqi Crisis | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Amman, Asharq Al Awsat – The Jordanian capital has witnessed extensive political moves this week with formal meetings and visits on all levels. King Abdullah II of Jordan received a number of Iraqi leaders over the past few days. An informed Jordanian governmental source told Asharq Al Awsat that the Jordanian King was keen to meet Iraqi leaders “of all political and religious orientations” and that he “listened and talked to them and emphasized Jordan’s eagerness to maintain the security, sovereignty and unity of Iraq”. The source added, “Jordan could unite the Iraqi parties, but we are not a party to these talks,” added the source.

King Abdullah met with Harith al Dari, the secretary general of the Association of Muslim Scholars, and is expected to meet with leaders from the Unified Iraqi Coalition. He will also meet former Iraqi Prime Minister, Iyad Allawi. The Jordanian source that spoke to Asharq Al Awsat on the condition of anonymity and stated that the Iraqis have to agree amongst themselves.

“We are a party to the intellectual process,” he added “as new ideas are proposed every day” to solve the [Iraqi] crisis. The source stressed that Jordan “acts to maintain the sovereignty and unity of Iraq”; however, he added, “there is no intention to dispatch Jordanian or regional troops to Iraq.” The source mentioned that the Jordanian King always warned against this move out of fear of political repercussions.

On the Bush-Maliki meeting, the source said, “Jordan has the advantage to be able to talk to all sides including Iraqi and U.S parties.” It added, “Even if the Syrians want to come here, they are welcome.” He maintained that the Iraqi-U.S. meeting came “as a result of mutual coordination between the two parties and bilateral discussions” between Amman and Washington. He added, however, that the meeting between Nuri al Maliki and Bush would be limited to the Iraqi and U.S. sides, with no interference from Jordan that hosted the meeting.