Abu Dhabi // Arab states should strengthen their ties with Iraq, said Abdullah Ibrahim al Shehi, the UAE's new ambassador to Baghdad, because failing to do so could hinder its attempts to recover from years of bloodshed and rebuild its institutions. "If we abandon the people of Iraq, it would be a catastrophe," Mr Shehi told The National in his first interview since being appointed in July. Some countries in the region still do not think the time is right to bring Iraq back into the Arab fold, following several years of isolation, he said. However, the UAE's leadership believes Arab states, many of which are flush with cash from the recent boom in oil prices, should move quickly to provide political and financial support to the country to prevent it from sliding back into the internecine conflict that only recently has subsided following the US military's "surge" against insurgent groups. "The [Iraqi] prime minister [Nouri al Maliki] said he wanted the Emirates to be strongly present, not only in the form of visits but also at commercial and economic levels," said Mr Shehi, referring to his first meeting as ambassador with the Iraqi leader last week. He said he had no doubt the Iraqi government would do all it could to protect Emirati investors in Iraq, but added that "it's up to the Emirati businessman to decide when it is the right time" to invest.
"We will not take the businessmen by their hands. They can adapt to the situation. We will exert our utmost effort to help all investors," Mr Shehi said. This week, Al Maabar International Investments, an Abu Dhabi-based property developer, announced plans for a US$10 billion (Dh36.7bn) project in Baghdad, to include residential areas, hotels and hospitals. The UAE has been at the forefront of efforts over the past several months to have Arab nations resume their diplomatic relations with Iraq. Mr Shehi also underscored the symbolic importance of a surprise visit to Baghdad last week by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Mohammed is the most senior Gulf leader to have visited the war-torn country since Saddam Hussein's regime was ousted in 2003. The Crown Prince had last visited Iraq the same year in his capacity as Chief of Staff of the UAE military. "Our relationship with Iraq is very special and it was crowned by Sheikh Mohammed's visit," said Mr Shehi. "Sheikh Mohammed's visit is very important to Iraq, because we want to contribute to supporting Iraq and the security of Iraq. Because our priority is security and stability of Iraq." Mr Shehi met Mr Maliki last Wednesday. They discussed ways to further enhance "bilateral relations in various domains", according to WAM, the state news agency. The ambassador added: "The purpose of our meeting was to show that we're there with the Iraqi government and people." The UAE's decision to reopen its embassy in Baghdad was announced during a visit to the Iraqi capital by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, the Foreign Minister, in early June. A number of Arab countries, including Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt and Jordan, made similar announcements a short time later. Mr Shehi, who was previously the nation's envoy to India, was appointed just a few hours after Mr Maliki arrived for a visit to Abu Dhabi in July, during which the Iraqi prime minister met Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi. During that visit, Sheikh Khalifa wrote off Iraq's debt, estimated at nearly US$7 billion (Dh25.7bn), including interest. Most Arab countries have been wary of appointing permanent envoys to Baghdad since Egypt's ambassador was kidnapped and killed in 2005. However, the relative decline in violence has rekindled interest among several states in re-establishing their missions. The Arab League earlier this month dispatched its first ambassador to the country. Mr Shehi insisted that the UAE had always maintained strong relations with Iraq. He noted the embassy was closed for less than a year, following the abduction of a staffer in 2006. In the same year, two Iraqis working for the embassy were killed by militants. Two weeks later, in May, the embassy's first secretary, was kidnapped for two weeks. mhabboush@thenational.ae
