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Al-Ahram Weekly 22 - 28 June 2000 Issue No. 487 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 22 - 28 June 2000 Issue No. 487
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Focus Opinion Culture Features Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters New leaf left unturned
By Salah HemeidIn contrast with most Arab states which declared periods of mourning following Syrian President Hafez Al-Assad's death on 10 June, Iraq showed virtually no signs of grief or loss over the death of the Syrian leader. Its restrained response was highlighted by its decision to send a low-level delegation to attend Assad's funeral. The highest level official in the delegation was Taha Mohieddin Ma'rouf, Iraq's vice-president -- a position that is largely ceremonial with few powers under Iraq's constitution.
While many Arab leaders praised Assad as a great leader and a champion of Arab nationalist causes, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein refrained from extending personal condolences to the Assad family or to the Syrian leadership. By the same token, Iraqi television only broadcast part of Assad's funeral which many state-owned television stations in the Arab world broadcast live.
While a long history of antagonism between the neighbours may be cited to explain Iraq's response, relations between Iraq and Syria showed some improvements shortly before Assad's death. These signs caused some observers to predict that the Syrian leader's funeral might be an occasion for the two countries to reassess their relations, if not embark on a rapprochement.
However, at Assad's funeral the behaviour of Bashar Al-Assad -- the late president's designated successor -- seemed to send mixed messages to Iraq, which perhaps accounts for Baghdad's cool response. The Iraqi News Agency reported that Bashar promised Iraqi Vice-President Ma'rouf that he will maintain "brotherly relations" with Iraq, referring to the limited re-establishment of relations between the two countries after a hiatus of 10 years. Bashar, however, undermined the potentially positive impact of this gesture by receiving several key Iraqi opposition leaders.
Although Iraq is probably not a top priority for Bashar in the area of foreign policy, during the Baath Party conference on Monday, which saw him officially nominated for the presidency, the party did discuss Iraq. It renewed its call for easing the suffering of the Iraqi people caused by the UN economic embargo and expressed support for Iraq's national unity and its territorial integrity. Nonetheless, the statement issued by the party stopped short of backing Iraq's demand for a complete lifting of the 10-year sanctions and calling for a full restoration of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
On the economic front relations between Syria and Iraq have progressed more steadily over the last three years. In June 1997, the neighbours reopened their border for the first time since 1980 and signed contracts for Syria to export goods to Iraq under the UN oil-for-food programme. Within the framework of this programme, Syria sold some $400 million in goods to Iraq last year. Movement between the two countries, however, is restricted to government officials and businessmen with special permits.
The regional rivalry between Syria and Iraq remains strong with the former maintaining strong ties with Tehran. Added to this, both countries continue to harbour dissidents who are working to overthrow one another's regimes.
