Iraq tribal sheikhs stress on Iraq unity

Alsumaria reports on the outcome of a meeting in Damascus of a number of Iraqi Tribal Sheikhs and Clerics,

The meeting concluded that Iraq’s unity is a red line that cannot be overcome under any circumstances.

It is clear that Iraqis want a unified Iraq first and foremost. Participants involved included,

Head of Shumar tribe and president of the tribal council Sheikh Aziz Nazhan Al Sadid told Al Hayat Newspaper that among tribal sheikhs whom signed the final statement of the meeting were Sayyed Ali Sheikh Ghomar from Baghdad, Sheikh Safir Hadi Al Ubadi from Karbala, Sheikh Khayrallah Al Basri from Basra in addition to Sheikh Fandi Shanshoul Al Farhoud from Al Rumaytha, Al Diwaniya, Sheikh Raed Abu Kalal from Najaf and cleric Jawad Al Khalesi as well as a large number of Arab tribal sheikhs.

In its final statement,

Tribal sheikhs vowed to assure Iraq’s unity, denounce partition, call to withdraw foreign forces from Iraq and prevent the interference of neighboring countries in its internal affairs as well as preserve its national identity as a country belonging to Arabic and Islamic environment. The statement urges Iraq’s neighbors not turn Iraq into an arena to settle their disputes or impose their influence. It called as well on the Iraqi government to expand the scale of national reconciliation so that it would include all Iraqis and end apportionment that takes grip of Iraqi politics as well as to reinstate former Iraqi army recruits.

While the Tribal Sheikhs called for a withdraw of foreign forces from Iraq, it is interesting to note that this statement did not specifically reference US forces as many other statements do. Instead the statement ties withdraw of foreign forces to interference of neighboring countries in Iraqi internal affairs.

It would be interesting to be able to read the subtleties of this text in Arabic.