Iraq Conference in Brussels: June 22

[yllus]

EU says preparations for Iraq conference going well

The Council of European Union Foreign Ministers in their meeting in Luxembourg Monday drew up an assessment of preparations for the international conference on Iraq, due to take place in Brussels on June 22.

"The preparations, which are being made in close collaboration with Iraq, the UN, the United States, Egypt, Japan and Russia among others, are going well," stated Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn, whose country holds the current EU presidency.

"We are expecting a good turnout. Over 80 countries and international organizations have been invited and, to date, most have indicated that they want to take part at ministerial level," he said.

The UN secretary general has signaled his intention to attend and Iraq will be represented by a delegation of around ten ministers as well as parliamentarians and representatives of the various institutions and communities, noted Asselborn.

The general aim of the conference is to mark the international community's support of the new Iraqi government during the transition period, which will lead to constitutional elections in December 2005.

Seems like a lot of nations are taking this pretty seriously. Japan is looking at implementing $3.5 billion USD in loans to Iraq to help with infrastructure restoration. Flights to and from Iraq from the EU and Iran are on the verge of starting. Prosperity (or even the promise of) should take a major bite out of the insurgents.

 

[ntdz]

Yay, more talk and no action from Europe.

 

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: ntdz
Yay, more talk and no action from Europe.

There is a military expression I like, all thrust and no vector. It means a lot of noise and action, but no direction or plan. Nothing but talk is just as bad of course, but you need talk before you have action. If the conference doesn't result in anything, then you can complain. But bitching just because they are talking and planning before acting sounds kind of silly.

 

[freegeeks]

Originally posted by: ntdz
Yay, more talk and no action from Europe.

and the daily action from the US military is this :roll:

Restaurant bombing kills 23 Iraqi soldiers

 

[AnyMal]

Originally posted by: freegeeks

Originally posted by: ntdz
Yay, more talk and no action from Europe.

and the daily action from the US military is this :roll:

Restaurant bombing kills 23 Iraqi soldiers

So, US bombed that restaurant? :roll:

 

[yllus]

Experts discuss help for Iraq

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) -- Experts met Tuesday to discuss technical aid for Iraq on the eve of high-level talks among senior European Union, U.S., U.N. and Mideast officials at a conference on Iraq.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and other top officials were to hold a working dinner later Tuesday with EU and Iraqi officials on coordinating how best the international community can help Iraq's new government boost security, rule of law and reconstruction.

The meeting is not meant to be a donors' conference but "is a chance to reassure the Iraqi people that the international community stands with them in their brave efforts to rebuild their country," Annan wrote in Tuesday's Washington Post.

Wednesday's conference, co-hosted by the United States and the 25-nation EU, also seeks to send a signal that divisions over the U.S.-led war in Iraq have been put aside, ensuring broad international backing for rebuilding Iraq.

"There may have been past differences over Iraq but as we move forward, there is a need for the world to work together so that Iraq's democracy will succeed," U.S. President George W. Bush said Monday after meeting EU leaders in Washington.

Iraqi officials also said they would try to appeal for wider international backing.

Makes sense. The U.S. and other members of the MNF are obviously there to stay for a while, and there's not much point in calling for a pullout now that the Iraqi government itself has requested the MNF's continued presence. Time to pitch in and make the best of things.

 

[yllus]

Day one of the Iraq conference in Brussels! Let's see what the headlines have for us:

Egypt to send ambassador to Iraq

Egypt will become the first Arab nation to send an ambassador to post-Saddam Iraq, the Iraqi foreign minister was to announce Wednesday, according to a copy of his speech.

In his address to an international conference on Iraq, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari praises Egypt for "showing regional leadership by taking the decision to appoint the first Arab ambassador we hope to soon welcome in the new Iraq," according to the text.

Arab nations withdrew their ambassadors from Baghdad under Saddam Hussein.

EU, U.S. rally help for Iraq, urge Sunni inclusion

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The United States and the European Union rallied world help for Iraq on Wednesday and urged Baghdad to ensure minority Sunnis help shape its future.

The conference communique called on Iraq's creditors to give generous debt relief.

Hailing last November's debt relief deal with Paris Club creditor nations, Allawi said Iraq was "well-advanced" in readying proposals with others, including commercial creditors.

He said the transitional government had inherited debts of $125 billion and $50 billion of Gulf War compensation claims.

"What we inherited, after the collapse of the tyranny, was massive indebtedness, a dysfunctional state geared to war and oppression and a hugely distorted and ill-operating economy."

Iraq incurred huge debts under Saddam, mostly to fund its 1980-1988 war with Iran. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait provided much of the war-chest. One conference delegate said Saudi officials had shown readiness to discuss the debt, but made no hard offer.

Canada names Iraq ambassador

Canada has named John Holmes as its new ambassador to Iraq, a move that Ottawa says marks an important step in re-establishing diplomatic ties with the war-torn nation.

Mr. Holmes, currently ambassador to Jordan, will keep that position while also serving as the non-resident representative to Iraq, Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew said Wednesday.

?The appointment of a non-resident ambassador represents an important step in the re-establishment of Canada's diplomatic representation in Iraq,? Mr. Pettigrew said.

?It further demonstrates Canada's intention to deepen and enhance bilateral relations with the new Iraqi government.?