Iraq to enhance protection for diplomatic missions

By Khalid al-Taie in Baghdad
For Al-Shorfa.com
2010-04-19

[Ali al-Saadi/AFP/Getty Images] Egypt's ambassador to Iraq Sherif Shaheen (right) visited the embassy grounds after the bombing with Iraqi Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani.

Iraqi diplomats and security officials announced new measures to protect diplomatic missions and representatives in Baghdad. Officials hope the measures will prevent attacks like the ones that targeted several embassies in the capital earlier this month.

According to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Lubaid Abawi, the ministry is making intense efforts to co-ordinate with security officials to provide more protection for embassies in Iraq and to secure the movements of diplomats inside the country "in order to thwart any new terrorist attempt aimed at isolating Iraq from its regional and international sphere."

"When terrorism chose a number of embassies to hit, it wanted through that move to send a political message to all the countries of the world to the effect that Iraq is an insecure country and that the diplomatic missions have to again live in an international isolation," Abawi said.

"However, the terrorists have failed, and this attack was met with more determination for the need to activate and expand this representation and to play a bigger role in assisting and supporting Iraq," he added.

Iraq hosts about 50 diplomatic missions at the level of embassies and consulates and there are 86 Iraqi missions working in different countries around the world.

"This is a clear indication that Iraq has started restoring its international standing and weight as a big and influential country at the level of foreign relations," Abawi said.

Abdul Bari Zebari, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Iraqi parliament, called for taking all the necessary measures to secure and protect the diplomatic missions and representations in Iraq.

"Targeting embassies in Iraq comes in the framework of desperate attempts to undermine the political process in Iraq and to sabotage it both internally and externally," he said.

Zebari added, "The current phase calls for vigilance and caution on the part of the security agencies and institutions against the plans of enemies and their malicious intentions to take the country backwards."

Baghdad Operations Command has stepped up its preventive measures around the diplomatic missions in Baghdad so they can continue their normal work, according to spokesperson Gen. Qassim Atta.

"There is high-level co-ordination in terms of professionalism and efficiency between Baghdad Operations Command and the Ministry of Interior's Embassy Protection Directorate on the one hand, and with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the other hand, aimed at preventing the terrorist organisations from threatening the embassies again," Atta said.

Three attacks using car bombs detonated by suicide bombers damaged the embassies of Iran, Egypt, Syria, and Germany on April 4th in Baghdad, killing dozens and injuring almost 200 people. On the same day, the Iraqi forces thwarted a fourth suicide attack near al-Karrada.

"These cowardly attacks will not prevent the countries of the world from boosting their presence in Iraq or from co-operating with it in different fields and domains," Atta said.

Egypt's ambassador in Baghdad Sherif Shaheen confirmed in press statements that the Egyptian diplomatic mission had no intention to leave Iraq.

He said, "The mission will continue with its work without being affected by the suicide attack that targeted it."

"We will not give in to any pressures attempting to impede our mission in Iraq, this is the goal of the terrorists who wanted to terrorise us morally so as not to stand with Iraq," Shaheen said.

"The blood of heroes who fell in the attack will not be in vain," he added. "The consulate will resume its work as soon as possible in order to do its duties towards Iraqis and Egyptians alike."

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