Relations have thawed between Jordan and Iraq, after both countries sought to break an impasse that lead to a diplomatic row in recent weeks, reports Suha Ma'ayeh, from Amman Amman and Baghdad sought to provide public assurances that relations between the two historical neighbours cannot be affected by those who have vested interest in harming them. The row between the two countries had been sparked by the Hilla attack, allegedly carried out by a Jordanian and in which 118 Iraqis were killed. "The historical relations between both countries cannot be affected by such a temporary incident. Even though there are parties outside Iraq that seek to intensify the crisis, ties remain too strong," Jordanian Foreign Minister Hani Al-Mulki told Al-Ahram Weekly. Jordan, a key United States ally in the region has been embroiled in a crisis with Iraq after Baghdad accused Jordan of supporting terrorist acts. The whole controversy erupted following a newspaper report that mistakenly said a Jordanian family had held a ceremony to celebrate the suicide bombing carried out in Hilla, a Shia city south of Baghdad. Two weeks ago, Amman and Baghdad called in their top diplomats for consultation. But Jordan's King Abdullah II ordered the immediate return of its envoy Demai Haddad -- who assumes the post of charge d'affairs -- in an attempt to defuse tensions. Senior officials reportedly expressed their desire to contain the crisis, which analysts say have been simmering for months and was partially due to Jordan's perceived position in post war Iraq. Shia groups have been angered by King Abdullah's statement, in which he warns that a Shia crescent -- stretching from Iran all the way through Iraq to Syria and Lebanon -- could disrupt the political makeup of the region between Iraq and its Sunni dominated neighbours. Yet, on many occasions King Abdullah claimed his statements were misinterpreted, and that his country had merely warned against the interference of some Iranian figures in Iraqi political affairs. Mustafa Hamarneh, director of The Centre for Strategic studies in Amman, believed that the demonstrations and the wave of anti-Jordanian hostilities and protests in Iraq were orchestrated. But, he said, "we cannot explain why Iraqis reacted in such a manner. There is no evidence that the Hilla attack was carried out by a Jordanian either. Those who were behind the campaign launched against Jordan are well aware of the Jordanian efforts exerted in rebuilding Iraq," he added. Minister Iyad Allawi hosts the largest programme outside Iraq to help provide training for Iraqi cadets and special security forces. The training programme is carried out with the expertise of multinational instructors from 17 countries amidst hopes to restore security in the war-torn country. Dozens of workshops and seminars have been held in Amman to help rebuild Iraq. The kingdom's stability and the various incentives provided to potential Iraqi investors have encouraged thousands of them, including supporters of the pro-Baath former regime to settle here and start their businesses. Hamarneh also criticised the lack of cooperation or cohesiveness among the major players in the country when it comes to issuing statements, as local dailies were full of terror-condemning quotes by different government officials. Political analyst Labib Qamhawi believes that the crisis is not really over, despite the fact that Iraqi foreign minister Hoshiar Zebari reportedly said that Baghdad wants to settle the issue quietly, and in an open-minded way. "The political circles within the Shia movement does not look favourably at Jordan, not even its role in post- war Iraq at this point in time," Qamhawi explained. Although Jordan did not publicly accuse a certain country for the current status-quo, Qamhawi pointed the finger at Ahmed Chalabi and Abdul-Aziz Hakim, whom he said "stand to benefit from strained relations between Jordan and Iraq". Chalabi filed a lawsuit in Washington last August against some former Jordanian officials, accusing them of defaming him and looting the Petra Bank which he had founded. Meanwhile Al-Hakim, a leading politician in the Shia United Iraqi Alliance, criticised Jordan earlier this month for "not doing enough to stop the recruitment of terrorists". However, Qamhawi explained that Jordan should have been more subtle in its reaction instead of calling in its charge d'affairs. "The fact that Iraqis were rather impolite in requesting an apology from the kingdom should have not been allowed to trigger negative Jordanian backlash and emotions." He concluded that both countries should take positive steps to ensure that the scenario does not erupt again.
