In his address to the Second Plenary Meeting of the South America – Arab Countries Summit, yesterday, the President of Iraq, Jalal Talibani, proposed the creation of an Arab-South American bank to coordinate projects and programs for the improvement of commercial exchanges between the two groups.
Talibani also suggested that a joint commission analyze the projects. The theme of the meeting of heads of state was “Political Dialogue and Cultural Exchange.”
Talibani praised the role of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in handling his country’s new political juncture.
“The solution of the Palestinian problem opens the way for the construction of a new Middle East, free of arms, aggression, and violence. A Middle East whose populations enjoy liberty, democracy, and a prosperous and modern existence,” he said.
The Iraqi President also affirmed that the war endured by his country from 2003 to 2004 was “imposed by the dictatorship.”
A war, according to Talibani, that affected innocent men, women, children, and old people. He appealed to the Summit’s participants to reject terrorism and asked the South American countries to reinforce their support for the reconstruction of Iraq.
“To strengthen its independence and the withdrawal of the coalition forces,” he argued.
Talibani suggested that South American countries send missions to Iraq to investigate investment possibilities.
Kidnapped in Iraq
The family of João José Vasconcelos Júnior, a Brazilian engineer who was kidnapped in Iraq at the beginning of this year, directed a letter to the heads of the 12 Arab country delegations that are in Brazil to attend the South America – Arab Countries Summit.
In the letter the family pleads for “concrete and real news” of João José, pointing out that in the more than 110 days since his kidnapping, they have not received any reliable information on his whereabouts.
According to the letter, the lack of news has caused the family “a process of intense anguish and pain.”
The letter was sent to the heads of the delegations from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, Oman, and Syria.
Agência Brasil
