Iraqi VP Offers 'Dialogue' With U.S.   
February 21, 2003 02:31 PM EST  

A U.S. navy sailor watches an F/A-18 Hornet as it prepares to take off from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea, Friday, Feb. 21, 2003. (AP Photo/Leila Gorchev/pool)		 BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqi Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan offered a "dialogue" with the United States, saying in an interview broadcast Friday night that his country was ready to talk if Washington abandons "aggression" and ceases "interference in internal affairs." 

"We are ready for a dialogue with the American administration and ready to build economic relations," he said. "We are for a dialogue and normal relations with all the countries of the world, except for Israel." 

"If they abandon aggression, and there is a dialogue that leads to normal relations, achieves mutual interests far away from interference in internal affairs, then we have no objection," he said. 
In the interview with Al-Shabab Television - owned by Saddam Hussein's son Odai - Ramadan also accused the United States of trying to dominate the world, saying Iraq can't accept that. 

He appealed to Arab countries to come to Iraq's defense, saying they were Washington's next targets. 

And in a nod to countries opposing U.S. threats of war, he said Iraq would help them argue their anti-war case by cooperating with U.N. weapons inspectors. 

"We will do our best to solidify the position of the fair countries and to enhance their position in defending Iraq's rights," he said. "We have agreed to intensify our efforts to solve those remaining problems (with the inspectors), and in coming days we will achieve more progress."