An Iraqi security delegation arrived Saturday in Cairo to review preparations for the upcoming Arab summit, which is scheduled to be held in Baghdad next March.
The delegation will meet with Arab League officials to discuss the security arrangements the Iraqi government will need to implement in order to host the summit in Baghdad, an Iraqi diplomat told Al-Masry Al-Youm.
Iraq was chosen to lead the upcoming summit following a rotation system based on an alphabetical order, as Arab League protocols stipulate.
The location must be confirmed at a meeting of Arab foreign ministers ahead of the summit.
A number of Arab states are concerned that Baghdad is not safe enough to host the summit, particularly in light of recent political developments.
If Baghdad cannot host the summit, Arab League rules specify that the summit will be moved to the Arab League headquarters in Egypt.
During their visit, the Iraqi delegation will examine the Sharm el-Sheikh resort which Egypt has used for numerous meetings and conferences, according to the diplomatic source, but he did not clarify whether this is an indication that the summit will be moved to Sharm el-Sheikh.
Iraqi officials have announced that the Iraqi government will spend over US$200 million on improving infrastructure to prepare the city for the summit.
