ERBIL, Iraq, March 10 (UPI) -- The Iraqi parliamentary speaker called for Arab solidarity with Iraq in a conference in Erbil ahead of a meeting of representatives of Arab parliaments.
Mahmoud al-Mashhadani welcomed representatives from the parliamentary bodies of most of the Arab states ahead of the annual meeting of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union scheduled for Tuesday, Voice of America reported.
Mashhadani noted that holding the annual conference in the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan signaled to the rest of the world Iraq was a unified country.
Most Arab nations were pessimistic about embracing the post-Saddam Iraq because of its links to the United States.
Mashhadani said that a unified Iraq served as an example to the rest of the Arab community and called for greater support for the new Iraqi government.
Iraqi ministers have lobbied other Arab states to reopen their embassies in Iraq, noting Bahrain opened its embassy there and engaged the Iraqi government on the diplomatic front.
Mashhadani said he would urge the Arab delegates to make pledges of solidarity for the new Iraq. Palestine, Lebanon and Sudan are scheduled topics of discussion for the summit.
