By Xinhua,
Damascus : Officials from Iraq’s neighboring countries opened here Sunday their meetings on security to discuss coordination and cooperation among them in order to get the Iraqis out of their current predicament.
Syrian Interior Minister Bassam Abdel Majeed told the opening session that the meeting aimed at helping the Iraqi people restore security and stability in their war-torn country and preserve its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He explained that Syria has spared no efforts in maintaining security along the common border with Iraq, increasing the number of observation posts and patrols to stop infiltration of militants and banned materials.
But some foreign states have failed to honor their commitments to supply Syria with sophisticated monitoring devices to help it tighten the border, the official regretted.
Delegations from Iraq’s neighbors and Egypt and Bahrain, as well as representatives of the Arab League (AL), the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), permanent members of the UN Security Council and the European Union (EU), attended the gathering, which was the second of their security coordination committee.
Security situation in Iraq and ways to ensure the security of the common border with Iraq were expected to be focused on during their talks.
Earlier, Abdel Majeed told reporters ahead of the meeting that it was necessary to achieve security and stability in Iraq through the cooperation of all neighboring countries as every side shares responsibility in control of the border.
The security committee would discuss various aspects of security, in addition to what has been accomplished in the security meetings held here last August, Abdel Majeed added.
In August last year, an international meeting on security cooperation and coordination among Iraq’s neighbors concluded in Damascus with a statement on helping Iraq restore law and order in the war-torn country.
The participants expressed a willingness to cooperate with the Iraqi government to restore security and stability in the war-torn country and rebuild the Iraqi armed forces.