Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said that it is up for the Syrian people to decide on their own affairs and they cannot be dictated to, adding that Iraq has long suffered from interference in its internal affairs.

In a press conference on Thursday, Zebari said that Iraq's reservations on the sanctions on Syria are based on its geographical position as a neighboring country, the trade relations between the two countries and the big number of Iraqis in Syria.

Zebari said that Iraq's decision on Syria is 'absolutely independent' and based on its commitments and national interests.

He added that Iraq's stand does not go against the support to the Syrian people to achieve democratic changes, adding that Iraq can play a helpful role to support the Arab initiative.