Baghdad Mayor Prepares Asylum for Saddam in Minsk :: Charter'97 :: News

Baghdad mayor has been in Minsk for three days now. The observers don’t rule out a possibility that he might have come to negotiate with the Belarusian authorities on Saddam Hussein’s moving to Minsk under the protection of the Belarusian leader. However, the official goal of the visit of the pre-war Baghdad’s mayor was declared as alleged “exploration of the sewerage system of the Belarusian capital”, which sounds really weird.

Having descended the aircraft the guest from Baghdad passed over to the Belarusian leader personal greetings from Saddam Hussein and said literally this: “Everything’s quiet in Baghdad. Our people are doing their regular routine, though getting themselves prepared for various situations in life.” Belarusian analysts assume that the war, which may soon broke out in the Persian Gulf, may push Baghdad to accept Alexander Lukashenko’s proposal on the political shelter. Moreover, rumors are spreading that during his visit to Minsk the mayor of the Iraqi capital will try to maintain contacts with other Slavic countries.

Leader of the United Civil Party Anatoly Lebedko, commenting on the situation, reminded that last fall Baghdad was visited by representatives of the Belarusian military enterprises, whose production could be used in different ways, including the military one.

“I dare assume that in the Iraqi delegation there are people, who aren’t of “peaceful” professions,” – said Lebedko, hinting at the possibility of unofficial deals in military sphere between Iraq and some CIS countries. Lebedko also confirmed that it is quite plausible that the mayor of Baghdad may reach an agreement on Saddam Hussein’s transportation to Minsk.

The Iraqi embassy refutes such allegations, claiming that Adnan Abed Hamed arrived in Minsk upon the arrangement, made in Minsk by the Iraqi Vice-Premier in September last year. Then it was declared that Iraq wants to attract Belarusian specialists in erecting reliable water supplies system in Baghdad, help solve transportation problems and healthcare. According to the Baghdad’s mayor himself, Belarusian Foreign Ministry and the Iraqi embassy, issues of the political interaction and military cooperation aren’t there in the visit’s daily agenda.