By Constant Brand
The Associated Press, 22 June 2005.
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Top Iraqi officials laid out their plans for reform Wednesday, urging their neighbors and other nations to provide expertise and aid as they work to secure order, rejuvenate the economy and draft a new constitution.
Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari and other members of his transitional government presented their plans at a one-day international conference on Iraqi reconstruction that brought together more than 80 senior officials from the United Nations, the European Union, the United States and other countries.
"What we need from you is exactly what your people need from you: The children of Iraq are just like yours — they don't want to lose their fathers and turn to orphans," al-Jaafari said. "The women of Iraq are just like yours — they don't want to lose their husbands, to turn to widowers."
The conference, co-hosted by the EU and Washington, was called to bolster international backing for the return of Iraq to the international community, said Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn.
"The challenges are numerous," said Asselborn, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency. "We are here to show to Iraq, to the Iraqi people, that we are on their side in this difficult period of transition."
In return, Iraq must improve security, develop its economy and "open political space for all members of Iraqi society who reject violence," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said.
International leaders have urged Iraq's new Shiite-led government to include Sunni Muslims in the political process, a move seen as key to curbing the deadly insurgency.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said a lot of work lies ahead of December elections to choose a full-term government. Iraq does not underestimate "the very real challenges" it faces, from continuing attacks from insurgents to finding agreement among Iraq's many ethnic groups on a constitution, he said.
"We want a stable, constitutionally elected government, established through democratic processes," Zebari said.
He set out four top priorities: drafting a constitution and holding elections on time, securing the stability of the country, rebuilding the economy and healing ties with neighbors.
To carry out those tasks, Zebari asked for help training Iraq's military and for its neighbors to take serious action in controlling their borders to prevent insurgents from infiltrating into Iraq.
Zebari also said Iraqis would ask their neighbors to restore diplomatic relations with Baghdad that were suspended under Saddam Hussein's rule. He announced Wednesday that Egypt is the first Arab nation to send an ambassador to Iraq.
Farouq al-Sharaa, foreign minister of Syria, said his nation was ready "to fully cooperate" with the Iraqi government to stop insurgents — but he accused the United States of getting in the way.
The "party that does not enable Syria to succeed in a better way to secure its border with Iraq is the same party that throws the strongest criticism at Syria and prevents Syria from attaining the equipment necessary to protect its long borders," he said.
Al-Sharaa also called for a "timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq ... that will contribute to calming down the Iraqi people fears."
In a draft declaration, 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."
The declaration also will call for "all Iraqis to participate in the political process," especially in writing the new constitution, according to the draft seen by The Associated Press.
They called on Iraq and its neighbors to work together to prevent cross-border transit, and to strengthen relations.
Participants also committed to carrying through on some $32 billion in pledges made at a donors' conference last year and reiterated commitments "to provide debt relief on generous terms."
The gathering also gives Europe, the United States and other nations the chance to move past divisions on Iraq.
"This is a very important day for Iraq. It is replete with symbolism because what it emphasizes ... that the international community, having been deeply divided during the course and before the military action, has now come together actively to support the building of a democratic, peaceful and prosperous Iraq," British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said.
Outside the gathering, about 100 Iraqi Shiites demonstrated in support of the Shiite-led government.
The protesters chanted slogans in favor of al-Jaafari and waved pictures of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq's top Shiite Muslim cleric, and slain Shiite cleric Mohammed Baqr al-Hakim.
Citation: Constant Brand. "International Community Supporting Iraq," The Associated Press, 22 June 2005.
Original URL: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5091060,00.html