ArabianBusiness.com - Middle East Business News
Monday, 23 November 2009 12:28 UAE time

YOUR DIRECTORY /

| Share |

Bahrain to name ambassador to Iraq

by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it  on Monday, 09 June 2008
WARMING RELATIONS: Al-Khalifa (pictured) has said the Gulf state would appoint new ambassador to Iraq. (AFP)

Bahrain's Foreign Minister Khaled bin Ahmad Al-Khalifa said on Sunday the country is to appoint an ambassador to Iraq, days after US-ally the UAE announced a similar move.

"Bahrain is in the process of selecting an ambassador to assume this post," the minister was quoted as saying by state-run Bahrain News Agency (BNA), adding Manama had already selected a site in Baghdad for a new embassy.

He did not give a date for the return of the ambassador and said "security conditions in Iraq remained unstable".

Story continues below
advertisement

The UAE on Thursday became the first US ally in the Gulf since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003 to announce it is to appoint an ambassador to Iraq, adding it would reopen the embassy in the coming days.

The Sunni-ruled Arab monarchies of the region have been reluctant to upgrade ties with Iraq, not just because of insecurity in the country but also because of its Shi'ite-led government's perceived tilt toward non-Arab Shi'ite Iran.

A US official said last week that Arab states have been encouraged by the recent crackdown on Shi'ite militias by Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki, and motivated by a need to check Iranian-backed power plays in Lebanon.

Washington has been pushing its Arab allies, notably regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia, to send ambassadors and high-level officials like trade ministers to Baghdad to help anchor volatile post-Saddam Iraq in the Arab world.

The US hopes that these countries will also offer financial support to Iraq and counterbalance the influence of Iran, which US President George W. Bush has accused of negative interference in Iraqi affairs.
In May, Jordan said it would also appoint an ambassador "in the coming days" while earlier in the month Egypt said it was ready to send a team to Baghdad to evaluate security conditions for opening an embassy.

Key US ally Saudi Arabia said in April it would reopen its embassy in Iraq only when security is restored.

| Share |


READERS' COMMENTS

Disclaimer: The views expressed here by our readers are not necessarily shared by ArabianBusiness.com or its employees.

Click here to post a comment


Add your Comment
All posts are sent to the administrator for review and are published only after approval. ArabianBusiness.com reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic.
Arabian Business would like to point out that only comments relevant to the story will be published. Any containing personal insults or inappropriate language will not be approved.
Name *
Remember me on this computer
Email *
(Your email address will not be published)
City
Country
Subject *
Comment *
Notify me of further comments


Please click post only once - your comment will not be published immediately.


MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM

SHARE PRICE CHECK

 EMAIL ALERTS

  1. Politics & Economics


Tell us your story

READER COMMENTS

  1. Dubai population grows 1.9% in Q2 07
    23 Nov ' 09 at 11:36
    While we all should agree that Dubai was over ambitious and the financial crises has left a big dent on the economy. Also the truth is...   More  »
  2. Dubai developers see negative press reports decline 04
    23 Nov ' 09 at 10:32
    yes indeed. .a very bad idea but when you've got shed loads of money, you can do anything. Furthermore, let me think where all the...   More  »
  3. Tougher checks proposed for foreign teachers 03
    23 Nov ' 09 at 08:17
    This must be done in order to get a qualified teacher. What is written on the CV should not be assumed correctly. There should be a...   More  »

Read all user comments >

Gitex 2009

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM