Home>News Center>World
         
 

Persian Gulf leaders OK Iraq election date
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-12-21 10:01

Leaders of Persian Gulf area nations backed the Jan. 30 date for Iraqi elections Monday, expressing hope that the ballot's outcome will reflect the makeup of Iraq's population.

The endorsement came at the start of a two-day meeting by the six nation Gulf Cooperation Council, which was also expected to focus on terrorism and upcoming elections in the Palestinian territories.

"The political system in Iraq has good details that protect the interests of all political and ethnic groups so a single political group will not impose its authority on others," said Bahrain's state minister for foreign affairs, Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar.

US President Bush has repeatedly said the Iraqi elections would be held on time, despite calls from critics that the level of violence must first be reduced. The administration says the vote is a key step in Iraq's democratic transformation following three decades of Saddam Hussein's rule.

"I have great confidence that a large section of Iraqi people have great awareness of the importance of the success of their democratic experience," Ghaffar said.

Iraq's Shiites, who make up 60 percent of the country's 26 million population, will likely dominate the polls. Such an outcome worries some neighboring Sunni-dominated countries and the United States, who are wary of a Shiite-run Iraq growing closer to its eastern neighbor, Iran.

Bahrain also defended a free trade agreement with the United States, which had been criticized by regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia as an accord that would weaken the collective bargaining power of the council and its members.

Ghaffar insisted that Bahrain was not breaking ranks with the Council, a loose political and economic alliance that also includes Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

"We are in an era of globalization and the most important aspect of this trend is economic freedom," Abdul Ghaffar said. He said free trade deals overcame restrictions that could obstruct development in the region.

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Sultan said current international conditions "call for the Gulf region to unite as a bloc and speak with one voice."

Bahrain's agreement is awaiting ratification by the U.S. Congress, but already two other members, Oman and the United Arab Emirates, are due to begin negotiations for free trade deals with America.

The trend toward separate deals with the United States indicates the Saudis are losing their power over the body.



 
  Today's Top News     Top World News
 

President Hu toasts Macao five years after return

 

   
 

China issues reforms on jury system

 

   
 

SOE reforms expected to end within 3 years

 

   
 

Aviation deal marks export first

 

   
 

Hong Kong urged to treasure achievements

 

   
 

Bush: Iraqi troops not ready to take over

 

   
  Allawi says rebels in Iraq seek civil war
   
  Bush: Iraq bombers 'are having an effect'
   
  Settlers back call to resist Gaza pullout
   
  Bush: Iraqi troops not ready to take over
   
  50 suspects detained in Najaf bombing
   
  YUKOS awaits Russia's next move after mystery sale
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  News Talk  
  Are the Republicans exploiting the memory of 9/11?  
Advertisement
         
主站蜘蛛池模板: 久久亚洲sm情趣捆绑调教| 制服美女视频一区| 99国产精品久久| 日本免费一区二区三区最新| 亚洲深深色噜噜狠狠爱网站 | 日韩精品免费在线视频| 免费一级毛片免费播放| 青青操免费在线观看| 国产精品无码日韩欧| 一个妈妈的女儿在线观看5| 日韩电影免费在线观看| 亚洲第一视频网站| 精品国产国产综合精品| 国产在线观看中文字幕| 777奇米影视网| 好男人社区www影院在线观看| 久久精品中文字幕第一页| 欧美日韩国产亚洲一区二区三区| 动漫精品一区二区三区3d| 香蕉视频在线看| 国产精品影音先锋| eeuss中文字幕| 成全动漫视频在线观看免费播放| 么公的又大又深又硬想要| 步兵精品手机在线观看| 午夜成人无码福利免费视频| 高清中文字幕视频在线播| 国产精品无码免费播放| a级毛片免费观看网站| 成全视频免费高清| 久久国产高潮流白浆免费观看| 欧美地区一二三区| 交换韩国伦理片| 精品熟人妻一区二区三区四区不卡 | 久久99精品国产99久久6| 国产精品久久久久国产精品| 一本无码中文字幕在线观| 日本精品啪啪一区二区三区| 亚洲免费在线观看视频| 特级做a爰片毛片免费看| 午夜福利视频合集1000|