News 2005

US, EU Show United Face at Iraq Conference
June 23, 2005

By CNSNews.com:

Setting aside past divisions over Iraq, the United States and European Union came together in Brussels Wednesday in a show of unity to help Iraqis rebuild their country.

An E.U. official characterized the conference, convened at Iraq's request, as an opportunity for Baghdad to present its political and economic priorities for the coming months to the international community.

"This was also an opportunity for the international community to make public its support for Iraq's transitional government and for the process that will lead to the creation of a permanent government in Iraq," the official said.

More than 80 nations attended the conference, which was structured around three main themes in Iraq's reconstruction: political process, economic challenges, and public order and rule of law.

In a statement released at the conclusion, participants "expressed support for Iraqi efforts to achieve a democratic, pluralist, federal and unified Iraq, reflecting the will of the Iraqi people, in which there is full respect for political and human rights."

It called on the transitional government to encourage all Iraqis to participate in the political process.

Sunni Arabs, who make up about 20-percent of Iraq's population, boycotted last January's election, handing Shiites and Kurds a dominant role in the administration.

Some analysts argue that this has pushed some Sunnis to join a long-running campaign of violence that has hampered international relief and investment projects.

"Without an inclusive process, security initiatives are unlikely to yield enduring results," United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also attended the conference, joining E.U. member states' foreign ministers and representatives from Iraq's Middle Eastern neighbors.

Rice criticized Syria for allowing terrorists to cross into Iraq, saying Damascus had a responsibility "not to allow its territory to be used for the gathering of people who are wreaking havoc and causing harm against innocent Iraqis."

Syrian foreign minister Farouq al-Shara, also attending the gathering, said his country was being denied advanced monitoring equipment needed to guard its border.

"The party preventing Syria from securing the border better is the same one that is strongly criticizing Syria," Shara said, without naming the U.S.

The conference statement called on all neighboring countries to cooperate with Iraq to "improve regional security."

"We want to achieve economic and political independence and raise the competence of our security forces without turning into a security state," said Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari.

While organizers pointed out that this was not a donors' conference, participants agreed to follow up on $32 billion in international pledges for Iraq's reconstruction. They also promised to provide additional relief for the $125 billion in debt the government has inherited from Saddam Hussein's rule.

The conference was also an effort at improving transatlantic relations. It was organized following President Bush's trip to Europe last February, when Washington sought to mend the rifts that developed over the Iraq war.

Organizers said the divisions that had soured relations between the Bush administration and Europe were no longer present.

"Everybody is on the same page, and has agreed to bury the past and work together as constructively as we can for the benefit of our Iraqi partners," the E.U. official said.

France, which along with Germany opposed the war and refused to contribute militarily, said Wednesday it was offering personnel to train Iraqi security forces -- albeit outside of Iraq -- and had also increased aid to Iraq for cooperation and training projects.

The international community's objective, said French foreign ministry spokesperson, Jean-Baptiste Mattei, was to allow Iraqis "to regain their entire sovereignty and the mastery of their destiny."

Source Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/23/AR2005062300778.html