By Xinhua,
Stockholm : The international community concluded on Thursday a conference on Iraq with a declaration that hailed progress in the country five years after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.
“While noting continuing political, security and humanitarian challenges facing Iraq, the participants of the Stockholm conference recognized the important efforts made by the (Iraqi) government to improve security and public order and combat terrorism and sectarian violence across Iraq,” reads the declaration.
The conference was held to evaluate the situation in Iraq one year after the launch of the International Compact with Iraq, under which Iraq promised reforms in exchange for greater international support.
Delegates from some 100 countries and international organizations appealed for debt relief for Iraq, echoing a call from Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.
“To further support Iraq’s economic development, creditors external to the Paris Club were encouraged to consider resolving outstanding debts to Iraq on Paris Club or similar terms,” says the declaration.
The Paris Club, which groups the world’s richest countries in the West, has promised to forgive 80 percent of Iraq’s debts owed to them, which total some 39 billion U.S. dollars.
Maliki asked other countries on Thursday to follow suit, arguing that the debts, owed by Iraq during Saddam Hussein’s rule, have become obstacles to Iraq’s economic development.
Bigger creditors outside the Paris Club, such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, however, did not make specific promises on Thursday. Both countries sent low-level officials to the Stockholm conference.
Maliki said he had not been given any timetable for debt reduction from these countries.
The attitudes of the two countries are crucial as the Paris Club countries have reserved the right to suspend part of the reduction if Iraq’s neighbors would not reduce its debts in a similar fashion.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who co-chaired the conference with Maliki, was upbeat about the progress Iraq has made.
“Indeed, notable progress has been made in all three pillars of the (International) Compact — in the security, political and economic fields, despite the challenges,” said Ban in his opening speech.
“If I were asked to use one word to describe the situation in Iraq today, I would choose the word ‘hope’.”
At the end of the conference, he told reporters that he walked away encouraged by the renewed support of the international community for Iraq.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also hailed Iraq’s achievements in security and democracy. She asked Iraq’s neighbors and the broader international community for further help.
“Iraq requires regional and international support to succeed,” Rice said in her speech.
“Increased diplomatic, economic, social and cultural engagement with the people of Iraq is essential. We urge Iraq’s neighbors and friends to strengthen these ties through official visits to Iraq, the reopening of embassies and consulates, and the appointment of ambassadors.”
She asked Arab countries to allow Iraq to appoint ambassadors in these countries.
Rice also asked the international community to reduce Iraq’s debts.