Foreign affairs deputy minister Aziz Pahad has concluded a nine-day regional visit to the Middle East to discuss the consequences of a post-Hussein Iraq for the region following its invasion by US-led military forces.

He visited Saudi Arabia and the City of Kuwait.

In Saudi Arabia, Pahad met with Hashim Yamani, the Minister of Trade and Industry and Nizar Madani, the assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Khaled Al-Jarallah, the undersecretary for Foreign Affairs in Kuwait.

According to South Africa’s foreign affairs department, discussions in both countries focused on the post-war Iraq, the Israel and Palestine Roadmap for peace and the consequences of both situations for regional and global peace and security.

“All principals expressed support for the positions taken by ministers at the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) meeting in Tehran, Iran last week, which called for the territorial integrity and the sovereignty of Iraq to be maintained following the country’s invasion.

“In addition, the right of the Iraqi people to self-determination must be encouraged. It is essential also that the United Nations play a role in post-war Iraq and the reconstruction of Iraq,” said DFA.

Regarding the Middle East peace process, support was expressed for the US and European Union brokered Roadmap for peace. All principals expressed optimism that a plan for peace was now in place and maintained that this should be implemented as had been accepted by all sides.

In addition, all preconditions should be set aside.

“The meetings between President (George) Bush and the leaders of both Israel and Palestine are eagerly anticipated with the hope that these will conclude with concrete steps for movement towards the resolution of the current crisis in the region,” the department said. Meanwhile, Pahad has departed for Cuba where he will, together with Cuba’s First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Fernando Remirez de Estenoz Barciela, co-chair the second meeting of the Consultative Mechanism between the Foreign Ministries of South Africa and Cuba today and tomorrow. – BuaNews.