Schröder met with Iraqi Governing Council

Chancellor Schröder met with delegation of Iraqi Governing Council

Chancellor Gerhard Schröder met in Berlin on December 18 with a delegation of the Iraqi Governing Council led by Abdul Aziz Al-Hakim, the current IGS President under its monthly rotating system.

Al-Hakim said given Germany's leading role in Europe he would like to see stronger cooperation with the German government in connection with the economic and political reconstruction of Iraq. The representatives of the Iraqi Governing Council assured Chancellor Schröder that it is their objective to build a democratic, free and federal Iraq, in which religious and human rights will be respected. They indicated that they would like to see a stronger role for the United Nations in Iraq.

Schröder offered Germany's support in connection with Iraq's process of transformation to a market economy and underscored German willingness to provide substantial debt relief in the framework of the Paris Club as well as help train Iraqi police personnel with a view to improving the country's security situation. Schröder welcomed the wish expressed by the Governing Council for a stronger role for the United Nations, saying that this would lend greater legitimacy to the process of transition to democracy both from domestic and foreign vantage points. He pledged further German support and assistance in connection with constitutional reform.

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