Ople bars DFA men from meeting Iraqis

In a move tantamount to the non-recognition of the regime of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, Foreign Secretary Blas Ople has ordered all his officials from having contacts with the Iraqi mission in Manila.

A diplomatic source told The STAR yesterday that Ople’s instructions has been conveyed to all offices of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), including those that are not directly attending the concerns and diplomatic relations with Middle East countries.

"Secretary (Ople) gave this order prohibiting the DFA from having any contact with Iraqi officials since Tuesday. it is a ‘no more contacts’ order for the entire department," the source said.

Ople made it clear that they can no longer invite Iraqi ambassador-designate Faisal Hussein and all other embassy officials to all DFA activities and functions while no new government in Iraq is installed.

The Iraqi mission were the only members of the diplomatic corps who were not invited to a recent activity hosted by the DFA. Officials and representatives of foreign embassies were invited to the UP Chorale’s farewell concert at the DFA last Friday.

Ople’s instructions came contrary to his statement on Thursday that Manila will abide by the official stand of US-led coalition forces that the war in Iraq is far from over.

Ople expressed his belief there will be some tough times ahead for coalition forces in dealing with packets of resistance.

Diplomatic sources said the Iraqi mission is in a "troubled situation" on their present status since they could end up as undocumented aliens once a new government in Iraq is installed.

Sources, however, pointed out that the Iraqi embassy officials should not be deported immediately "for humanitarian reasons."

The sources stressed that the Iraqqi envoy and embassy officials are likely to apply for political asylum in Jordan once a new Iraqi government is installed.

"If a new government is formed, they will have to leave for delicadeza," another source said.

The Iraqi diplomats are expected to turn over their funds in a Philippine bank to be used by their successors.

"They can’t demand similar treatment given to a chancery or embassy," the source said.

While the Philippine government did not yield to US request for their allies and other nations to boot out Iraqi diplomats in their respective countries, Ople admitted Manila "is in a limbo," whether to continue extending diplomatic recognition to the Iraqi delegation.

Last February, Manila ordered the expulsion of Iraqi embassy Second Secretary Husham Hussain for his alleged links with the extremist Abu Sayyaf.

Iraqi embassy First Secretary Abdul Karim Shwaikh and commercial attache Karim Nassir Hamid were also expelled March 26 on allegations of spying.

An intelligence report disclosed the two Iraqi officials were seen taking photographs of Philippine and US vital installations in the country as well as the American cemetery at Fort Bonifacio in Makati City last year.