Iraqi embassy still represents Saddam's govt

NEW DELHI: While the Saddam Hussein regime seems to have gone underground and the appurtenances of its power destroyed, one corner of Delhi remains firmly committed to the deposed president: The Iraqi embassy continues to represent Saddam Hussein''s government in India, undaunted by the rapid changes that have taken place in Baghdad over the past two days.
In fact, Iraq''s diplomatic representatives here seem completely unfazed by the possibility that they may soon become persona non grata. "As far as I am concerned", says Iraqi charge d''affaires Adday O Al-Sakab, "I am still representing the Iraqi government in India".
Asked for the Indian government''s view, the external affairs ministry spokesperson said that a decision on the embassy''s status would be taken "in accordance with standard diplomatic practice." He, however, emphasised that the situation was "fluid".
Sakab told the The Times of India on Thursday that though he has had no communication with Baghdad for several days, he is in constant touch with Iraq''s friends in India. "I am constantly getting calls and messages of support" he says, asserting that "Indian people are our friends."
Sakab declares that Iraq is very satisfied with the Lok Sabha''s anti-war resolution. He cites the use of the Hindi word `ninda'' to argue that the Indian government has been supportive of Iraq. "Even some of our Arab friends did not make such statements. We are very satisfied. We were expecting it because of our Indian friends."
The MEA, however, has already started looking at the situation post-Saddam. Though the ministry spokesperson replied to a question on whether India still recognised Saddam by saying: "I have not made any announcement on this issue", he said that India''s primary concerns at this time were Saddam of law and order, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Iraq and Iraq''s humanitarian needs. India had always expressed its desire for an immediate end to the war and early withdrawal of forces, he said.
On its part, the business community went a step ahead with FICCI declaring its intention to send "a delegation immediately to the UN office of Iraq programme" to discuss "for fructification of Rs 3000 crores of goods and material to be supplied before May 12.
In addition, FICCI declared, the delegation would "also be visiting Washington to meet the US organisations designated for the reconstruction of Iraq to seek India''s participation." The delegation, FICCI said, was "likely to be led by Secretary (ANA) in the Ministry of External affairs, R M Abhyankar".