Iraqi government confirms envoy recall driven by Amman opposition conference

AMMAN — Iraqi government confirmed that the recall of its ambassador to Jordan was a reaction to the opposition conference held in Amman, while the Kingdom reiterated that it explained the issue.

A “gathering” was held in Jordan last Wednesday, involving Iraqi figures representing Sunni and tribal leaders and businessmen, where they launched their first unified coalition calling on the international community to boycott the Nouri Al Maliki government.

Called the “Amman conference to save Iraq”, the Wednesday assembly called on the international community to officially recognise rebel forces as a legitimate resistance group.

Two days later, Iraqi authorities recalled their ambassador to Jordan.

In a statement posted online late Sunday, the Iraqi foreign ministry said “allowing such conferences to be held in Amman is interference in the internal Iraqi affairs and a violation of the diplomatic norms”. 

“The Iraqi government, after summoning its ambassador in the Jordanian capital, and before taking further decisions, expects an explanation from the Jordanian authorities to justify this position,” the statement added.

Responding to this, a Jordanian diplomatic source said: “Jordan had explained the situation regarding the said conference.”

So far, Jordan has not received a formal request for clarification.

However, the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The Jordan Times that “if we receive a request of clarification from the Iraqi foreign ministry, we will respond through the diplomatic channels”.

Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh explained the issue to his Iraqi counterpart Hussein Shahrestani on the day of the gathering, he announced.

“The conference was not sponsored by Jordan” and the Kingdom has no relation with its content or its outcomes, Judeh said then, adding that Amman customarily provides venues for any “party” that requests to organise a conference.

However, Jordan prevents meetings that would jeopardise its security, or the security of other countries.

This was also echoed by Minister of Political and Parliamentary Affairs Khaled Kalaldeh, who said that the meeting involved Iraqis residing in Jordan and “we cannot prevent them from meeting with each other in a private facility”.

In a phone call with The Jordan Times, Kalaldeh noted that Jordan does not interfere in the affairs of a state and its opposition forces.