By NNN-KUNA
United Nations : UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said he expects to urge member states when they meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki in the upcoming high-level meeting on Iraq next Friday to expedite their commitment to assist that country.
“I would like to discuss with all member states, together with Prime Minister Maliki how to strengthen the UN role, how to implement Security Council resolution 1770 in general and also review the process of the International Compact, where we are standing and urge the member states of the international community to expedite their commitment,” Ban told a press conference Tuesday.
The high-level meeting on Iraq scheduled for Sept 22 will be co-chaired by both Ban and Al-Maliki.
Resolution 1770 adopted by the Council last month gave the green light to expand the UN role in Iraq, strengthen the various regional initiatives and further develop the International Compact for Iraq.
It will be attended by high-level officials representing the Council’s five permanent members, the eight leading industrialised nations (G-8), and Iraq’s neighbouring countries.
On the Iraqi refugees who are pouring into Syria and Jordan, Ban said he is concerned about their plight and that “countries concerned” have the moral obligation to help them.
“Syria and Jordan are experiencing very serious difficulties in accommodating all those refugees at a rate of 15,000 people per week. Parties concerned have some moral obligation to do more for those refugees and I’ll see when it is opportune timing for me to discuss this matter with leaders of the countries concerned,” he said, without mentioning the US by name.