By KUNA,
Kuwait : Foreign ministers of Iraq, its neighbouring countries and permanent UN Security Council (UNSC) have expressed support for the Iraqi government’s efforts in broadening the political process and reinforce political dialogue, while confronting those fomenting violence nationwide.
In the final communique at the conclusion of the Third Expanded Ministerial Conference of the Neighbouring Countries of Iraq here Tuesday, the top diplomats gave their backing for the Iraqi government in assisting vulnerable groups including the internally and externally displaced persons, and promoting protection of human rights, judicial and legal reforms.
They also commended the role of the Iraqi armed forces in confronting and deterring the recent threats posed by armed groups, and welcomed the Iraqi government’s commitment to disarm and dismantle all militias and extra-governmental armed groups.
The delegations, reflected in the final communique, underlined the importance of the International Compact with Iraq (ICI) for the political reconciliation and reconstruction of Iraq.
They recognised the role and potential of Iraq’s neighbouring countries in the construction of Iraq, and welcomed the decision of the Paris Club to write off part of Iraq’s debts, and invited all creditors to Iraq to follow suit to contribute to reducing its debts.
The delegates to the conference hoped and expressed their desire to hold the next expanded conference in Baghdad.
The final communique reaffirmed respect of national unity, independence, full sovereignty, territorial integrity, and Arab and Islamic identity of Iraq.
The delegations said it was the right of the Iraqi people to freely determine their political system and political future, as well as controlling their natural resources.
They stressed the importance to achieve national conciliation in Iraq, and called on the Arab League to continue cooperation with the Iraqi government and concerned parties in this direction.
They invited all components of the Iraqi people to work for the enhancement of national unity regardless of their political trends, and ethnic and sectarian affiliations.
They acknowledged the obligations of the Iraqi government and international community to help countries hosting the Iraqi refugees to help them address their immediate and foreseeable needs as well as safeguarding their voluntary and safe return. There are over two million Iraqis displaced in Jordan and Syria alone.
The delegations, however, commended the important role of the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) in providing support, consultation, assistance and coordination with the Iraqi government in line with UN resoltuion 1770.
They encourage all states, particularly neighbouring countries, to open or reopen their diplomatic missions and enhance those existing by raising the level of representation.
The Iraqi government has been calling on Arab countries to reopen their embassies in Baghdad, but the Arab governments have been linking this move to improvement of security conditions.
The delegations to the neighbours conference, however, condemned all acts of aggression and war crimes of the former Iraqi regime against the people of Iraq, Iran and Kuwait. They also condemned the killing of Kuwaiti war prisoners and nationals of other countries, and the former Iraqi regime’s coverage of these crimes for over 10 years.
They welcomed the appointment of Ambassador Gennady Tarasov as the UN high-level coordinator who succeeded late Ambassador Yuli voronstov, said the final communique.
They also condemned all acts of terrorist in Iraq and called for their immediate cessation. In this regard, they supported the joint efforts of Iraq and its neighbouring countries to prevent transit of terrorist and illegal arms to and from Iraq.