Iraq’s President Seeks International Support

Iraq’s President Seeks Support For International Compact At UN General Assembly

New York, Sep 22 2006 8:00PM

The President of Iraq today called on national leaders attending the General Assembly’s annual debate to support the International Compact for development in his country.

“We are hopeful that the international community fulfils its obligations by providing the required resources to deal with the key priorities and achieve a common vision in the framework of an economic transformation process for the sustainable development programme,” Jalal Talabani said.

He also welcomed the role being played by Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Special Representative for Iraq, Ashraf Qazi. “Iraq values the effective role of the UN,” the President said, voicing hope that UN agencies carry out development and reconstruction activities.

But he voiced anger at the violence continuing in the country. “We say it openly: our people’s patience is nearing its end, particularly when it sees the blood of its innocent sons and daughters being spilled and defiled, its infrastructure destroyed and its mosques and ‘Husseiniyas’ ruined, and the rebuilding of its armed forces and security services impeded to prevent completing our sovereiῧnty, he said.

“It is difficult for our political leadership to keep quiet forever.”

Also addressing the Assembly, Omani Foreign Minister Yousef Bin Alawi Bin Abdullah voiced concern about the deteriorating security situation and internal violence inside Iraq, and called on all the Iraqi parties to support their national Government.

He also said that fighting terrorism requires a balance between security requirements and a commitment to human rights conventions. The international community could not endanger the security and stability of States under the pretext of combating terrorism, he said.

Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Bin Mohamed Al-Khalifa, the Foreign Minister of Bahrain, said terrorism posed the greatest threat to international peace and security today. “There must be greater efforts exerted by the international community and more coordination on all levels to confront this scourge, he said.

On the issue of Iraq, he welcomed efforts by that country’s Government to end the violence. “There is no doubt that the pivotal role that Iraq’s neighbouring countries have played in reinforcing their good neighbour policy through cooperation in controlling the borders and non-interference in the internal affairs supports the efforts of the Iraqi Government in this direction, he said.

ends

© Scoop Media