By IINA,
Kuwait City : Iraq is no doubt facing grave problems, and creating an understanding between the country and its neighbors is vital in assisting in overcoming them, said UN Undersecretary General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe. “Only through constructive dialogue between Iraq and its neighbors can all the people of the region live in peace and prosperity. The fact that we are meeting here in Kuwait signals a desire to overcome differences and strengthen cooperation in the region,” he said in his address at the Third Expanded Ministerial Conference of the Neighboring Countries of Iraq here today. Foreign ministers of Iraq, its neighboring countries and permanent UN Security Council (UNSC) members are taking part in the conference.
Pascoe, who is heading the UN delegation to the conference, stressed the importance of maintaining the unity of Iraq and its democracy, without which he said the reconstruction process, would not see light. Since the previous expanded meetings in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, and Istanbul, Turkey, in 2007, the UN had taken steps to facilitate political dialogue in Iraq so as to overcome the strife between factions there. He called for exerting greater efforts to assist Iraq’s refugees and displaced persons, adding that the international organization believed in the need to help host countries in this regard, alongside placing a program for the return of refugees so that they may contribute to their country’s reconstruction. “We believe that together with the government of Iraq, and the wider international community, the UN can help host countries, particularly Jordan and Syria, with humanitarian and technical assistance,” KUNA quoted Pascoe as saying.
The official said the support neighboring states “is essential” for the stability of Iraq, adding that the three working groups formed to tackle Iraq’s energy, security and refugees’ issues were working hard to deal with these problems and a mechanism had been prepared to overcome them. He hoped that this mechanism would be adopted during this meeting.
Moreover, he strongly urged Iraq and its neighbors to “increase and transform this process (regional dialogue) into a strong partnership, based on shared responsibilities and concrete cooperation.” Pascoe added that the UN believed that serious steps to assist the Iraqi government would help in taking more daring measures when dealing with its issues.
Addressing the opening session, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki urged the neighbors to help stabilize his war-torn country. The neighboring countries, especially the Gulf neighbors should help stabilize Iraq by living up to pledges to forgive its debt, Maliki urged at the conference. Iraq has “passed the crisis” and is much better off than it was a year ago, the premier stressed, urging the neighbors and other sides to implement their pledges and commitments. Maliki is leading a delegation of top officials, including Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and Minister of State for National Security Shirwan Al Waili for the conference.
Key foreign ministers attending are US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, British Foreign Secretar David Miliband, Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Motaki and Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Al-Muallem. Countries participating in the conference are the six member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Egypt, Jordan, Iran, Syria, Turkey, the US, the UK, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and Sweden. Also taking part are representatives of the UN, EU Presidency, NATO, the GCC, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and the Arab League. The first expanded meeting was held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, in May 2007, while the second was held in Istanbul, Turkey, in November of the same year. An informal meeting might be held on the sidelines of the neighbors conference over Lebanon.
Diplomats from major Western powers and countries neighboring Iraq met yesterday here to prepare for today’s international conference. They discussed a joint declaration expected to be submitted to today’s conference. “There will be specific resolutions in the declaration about supporting Iraq’s security and the political process,” an Iraqi delegate said after the meeting. “We are now passing through a transition state that requires solid support,” said the delegate.