The revolution and pacts (46). Ring of bilateral pacts (viii). Iraqi flirtation. After the establishment of the Arab League in 1945, Egypt began to be more actively engaged in Arab affairs, thus reducing Iraq's influence in inter-Arab relations. Iraq's position was further weakened by Syria's move towards closer co-operation with Egypt. The Egyptian Gazette of October 31, 1955 carried the following report from Baghdad: Iraq moved last night to discuss with Syria and Lebanon the negotiation of an agreement similar to the military pacts signed by Egypt with Syria and Saudi Arabia, official quarters stated here today. The Iraqi Foreign Minister, Burhaneddin Bashayan, summoned the Lebanese Ambassador and the Syrian charge d'affaires in Baghdad last night. He told them that Iraq, after full consideration of the bilateral military pacts between Egypt and Syria and Saudi Arabia, it would welcome negotiating a similar pact with Syria and the Lebanon. Raja Azzaim, the Syrian charge d'affaires said today: ‘the Iraqi Foreign Minister asked me to inform my government that Iraq would welcome a visit to Baghdad by a Syrian mission to negotiate and conclude a bilateral military defence pact. Iraq was also fully ready to negotiate and conclude a trade agreement with Syria based on a draft received recently from the Iraqi Minister in Damascus. Burhaneddin suggested the inclusion of the Lebanon in the coming negotiations to reach a military pact with Syria. The Syrian premier, accompanied by Rizkalla Antaky, the Syrian Minister of Economy, and a number of experts, are due to visit Baghdad in the immediate future to negotiate a military defence pact and a trade and economic agreement with Iraq, according to a reliable diplomatic source here. A Lebanese mission, probably headed by the premier is expected here at the same time, the source said. Nury verbally condemned the Tripartite Attack...though planes flew from the Habbaniya Base of the Baghdad Pact. [email protected].
