Hostage talks resume as Dulaimi accepts KGL rules

Negotiations for the release of the three Indians, who are held hostage in Iraq with four other truck drivers, resumed today between Iraqi m...

Negotiations for the release of the three Indians, who are held hostage in Iraq with four other truck drivers, resumed today between Iraqi mediator Sheikh Hisham Al-Dulaimi and KGL after some tough posturing by the company, which laid down pre-conditions before Dulaimi re-established contact. Face-to-face talks are, however, yet to start.

The day began with Dulaimi making an appearance on Al-Arabiya TV saying he was willing to start negotiations but was awaiting a letter from the kidnappers authorising him to do so. While saying he was in touch with the Egyptian and Indian missions, Dulaimi stressed on the importance of friendly ties between Iraq and Kuwait.

He added that Kuwait should not forget Iraq and the people of Falluja as he urged them to stand and offer help. It may be recalled that differences over the demand for compensation to Falluja victims was cited by Dulaimi as the principal reason to withdraw from the talks on Sunday.

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Peeved at the sudden withdrawal — particularly when it seemed that negotiations were nearing a successful conclusion — KGL decided to make it clear that such a pull-out would not be acceptable again. As reported in this newspaper on Monday, the company did not rule out exploring other ways to reach out to the abductors.

But following Dulaimi’s statements last evening and today, the company said it was willing to resume talks with him provided the following conditions were met:

• Agree to meeting Dulaimi at any place of his choice but with the knowledge that he will form one part of the negotiations, and not the only one, as was the case in the past.

• Both sides must agree on the basic principles before KGL sends its company representative to Baghdad again.

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• To be assured of Dulaimi’s ‘‘sincerity’’ and ‘‘seriousness’’ in ending this issue as fast as possible, and that he will refrain from a surprise pull-out.

• Preparing the issues to be negotiated well in-advance and to be sure that they are the same topics that the two sides had agreed upon earlier.

According to KGL spokesperson Rana Abu Zaneih, the company had accepted all Dulaimi’s demands. ‘‘And we did so without delay. We were counting on ending the issue the day before yesterday, but with his pull-out, this crisis has been delayed and we have been forced to find other channels for negotiations. But we hope to hear from Dulaimi very soon,’’ she said.

Within an hour of the message being broadcast and the conditions conveyed, Dulaimi got in touch with KGL. Confirming this, Zaneih said the negotiations have begun and a representative is likely to meet Dulaimi on Wednesday.

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Meanwhile, after the meeting of the Crisis Management Group which took stock of the developments, MoS for External Affairs E. Ahamed said there was a likelihood of a ‘‘successful’’ and ‘‘satisfactory’’ outcome as the negotiations were still continuing. He informed that the Muslim Ulema Board of Iraq too has sent an appeal for the release of the hostages. Its spokesperson Sheikh Mohammed Bashar Al-Faisi is belived to have said: ‘‘We appeal for the release of the hostages who had no connection with the occupation forces and have not harmed the Iraqi people.’’

Ahamed also confirmed that Dulaimi has received the go-ahead from the abductors to proceed with negotiations.