Baghdad's Role in e Political Reconciliation between Iran, Saudi Arabia was Significant
The relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran were shaped through negotiations that took place in Baghdad, and Baghdad's role in this regard was very significant.
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Foad Hussein, on the second day of the Tehran Dialogue Forum, participated in a specialized panel on Arab world issues. In response to a question regarding developments in Syria, he said: "This issue pertains to the internal matters of Syria and its people. We first express our respect for the will of the Syrian people. The security, economic, and social situation in Syria, alongside the similar situation in Iraq, is important to us. Today, the stability of Syria is crucial for us, and the security of this country is a priority. We want Syria to emerge from this catastrophic and tragic situation it has been trapped in, whether due to internal conflicts or the sanctions imposed on it. Therefore, in our meetings with the new management in Syria, we emphasize that we are ready to cooperate, but we also need transparency from the Syrian side."
He continued: "It is well-known that Syrian society is characterized by ethnic and cultural diversity, and these components have faced significant and multiple challenges at various stages. It is also recognized that the Syrian regime was based on the Ba'ath Party and the rule of a single individual over the country. In comparison to Iraq, we also had a regime based on the Ba'ath Party and the rule of a single individual. Therefore, there are many similarities between Syrian society and Iraqi society, as well as between the governing systems of these two countries. Both regimes stemmed from a single organization and ultimately led to similar outcomes."
Foad Hussein emphasized: "We need stability, security, and an inclusive political process in Syria. When we talk about an inclusive political process, we mean the presence of representatives from all groups and components of society in this process, as the ultimate goal is stability in Syria. Establishing stability in Syria is not possible without an inclusive political process, as there are multiple problems in the Syrian scene. Currently, various armies are present in Syria: the U.S. Army and Palestinian forces in the northeast, the Turkish Army in the north, Russian bases in coastal areas, and Israeli forces in Suwayda and Quneitra. An inclusive political process can protect Syrian society and prevent foreign interventions, which occur through social divisions."
The Iraqi Foreign Minister stated: "We need a transparent process. In Iraq, we have actually started to solve our internal problems through a democratic system and through democracy, federalism, and decentralization. We hope that the people of Syria will also achieve a democratic system and choose their leaders through a democratic process, not appointments. The democratic process is the solution for Syrian society."
He added: "Therefore, we interact with the reality of Syria and believe that any progress and change in Syria is an internal matter. However, the reality that Iraq is stable or unstable positively or negatively affects the current situation in Syria."
In another part of his speech, Foad Hussein said: "We believe in negotiation and dialogue and believe that we should be part of the solution, not part of the problem in the regional environment. For this reason, we have seen that Iraq has indeed played a pioneering role and has been important in bridging views among various countries. The relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran were based on negotiations that took place in Baghdad, and Baghdad's role in this regard was very significant. Additionally, the relations between Egypt and Iran also began in Baghdad, and the relations between Jordan and Iran were also established from this city."
He continued: "Iraq's policy in bridging views is based on communication with neighboring countries and creating a space for dialogue and negotiation among them. In fact, the first Baghdad Conference was an example of gathering various countries around one table. In this conference, some leaders came together for the first time after years of disputes and problems between their countries. Baghdad sees these efforts as a platform for finding solutions. We continue with the policy of dialogue and negotiation and reject the use of force in international relations. Past experiences, such as the Ba'ath regime and Saddam's government, showed that this government relied on violence and war in its relations with neighboring countries. However, we seek to reach agreements and solve problems through negotiation and understanding."
