SA to open embassy in Iraq
Zibonele Ntuli
13 March 2006South Africa is to open an embassy in Iraq, President Thabo Mbeki said after meeting a 10-member Iraqi delegation in Pretoria last Tuesday. The delegation was in the country to seek advice and help on reconstructing the divided country.
Led by Hummam Hammoud of the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution, the delegation included leaders of indigenous communities, political parties and community organisations from Iraq.
South African embassy
After an hour-long meeting with Mbeki, the delegation told journalists that it had requested the President to "urgently open an embassy in Baghdad" to improve relations between the two countries.
In response, Mbeki said: "We will urgently move on it."
Mbeki said the delegation also raised a number of issues such as the reconstruction task facing that country. "We will encourage South African companies to get involved there," Mbeki said.
He added that the delegation also briefed him about acts of "international terrorism" taking place in Iraq, and the need to unite the population so that no communities felt marginalized.
"Our security concerns are the same as of this group, those of international terrorism in Iraq ... Beyond that, they need to unite the people so that no one feels marginalised from the process," Mbeki said.
South Africa's experience
A member of the delegation, Dr Mowaffik Al-Rubaie, said the main purpose of the visit was to draw lessons from South Africa's experiences on reconciliation and tolerance.
"We have gone through many difficulties and challenges, we are working together to get over these challenges and difficulties," Al-Rubaie said. "We want to build on South Africa's experiences, challenges and successes. We have learnt a lot here and we will go back home full hope that we will overcome our challenges."
Al-Rubaie said the delegation had asked South Africa to open an embassy in Baghdad, adding: "There is great potential for business in Iraq, and there are huge amounts of oil, business and construction which could benefit South Africa.
"Come to Iraq, it is safe and it needs everything," he said.
Hummam Hammoud said that in order for peace and stability to prevail in his country, Iraqis needed to be tolerant and forgive one another.
"We have learnt that when two components of a community try to win over each other, it is not good," Hammoud said. "We need to unite as a country. We have also learnt that beautiful things come from the sad events. We are full of hope that we will bring peace and stability in Iraq."
The delegation also met with civil society, academics and political parties during its visit to the country.
Source: BuaNews
