Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said that his country “would not shed a tear for Bashar Assad” if he departed, but voiced fears of an Islamic Emirate that could succeed him.
Zebari said Iraq supports the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people and respects their will for self-determination and the process of political democratization.
He said he informed the Iranians that Iraq is not part of the conflict in Syria, and that it will not provide any weapons to any party. He also denied the existence of any Iraqi armed forces on Syrian territory.
Zebari warned the Syrian regime and the opposition that any preconditions from any party ahead of proposed peace talks in Geneva will “disable the process”.
“There is a need to deal positively with the conference and both parties should realize the absence of a military solution,” Zebari said.
Translated and edited by the Syrian Observer
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