Iraq govt urges regional cooperation

BAGHDAD – Iraq’s Shi’ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said yesterday his government had made progress on all fronts and urged neighbouring countries to work together to stop what he called ‘evil’ from destabilising the region.

Maliki was speaking a day before top US officials in Iraq deliver a long-awaited assessment to the Democrat-controlled Congress on President George W Bush’s decision to send 30 000 extra soldiers to Iraq. The reports by the US commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, and Ambassador Ryan Crocker could influence any decision Bush takes on troop numbers amid demands from Democrats and some Republicans for US forces to start leaving Iraq.Addressing a meeting of officials from neighbouring countries and Western powers such as the United States, Maliki said his government had made progress ‘in all directions’.”This government is working hard to develop the political situation.It has made many gains despite the huge destruction left by the former regime,” Maliki said.”We are at the beginning of the road, but at the same time, we say that what has been achieved is something promising.”Senior Democrats in the United States have slammed Maliki’s performance, with some even calling for his replacement.The assessments by Petraeus and Crocker are expected to highlight a reduction in violence in Iraq but also note the country’s failure to pass laws aimed at reconciling warring majority Shi’ites and Sunni Arabs.Petraeus said in a letter to troops on Friday that the government’s record on political reforms had been disappointing.Maliki, referring to attackers including Sunni Islamist al Qaeda, said all nations had a stake in making the region safer.”Evil wants to strike this or that country, it will not stop at the border of one country.For this, we have to stand together as a wall in the face of this evil,” Maliki said.The purpose of yesterday’s meeting was to review the work of several committees that were set up after a high-level conference in Egypt in May where ministers from the region and Western powers discussed ways to stabilise Iraq.The committees have been looking at greater cooperation in security, energy and economic matters.Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said discussions needed to include measures to tighten Iraq’s borders so “terrorists and killers” cannot get into and out of the country.Nampa-ReutersThe reports by the US commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, and Ambassador Ryan Crocker could influence any decision Bush takes on troop numbers amid demands from Democrats and some Republicans for US forces to start leaving Iraq.Addressing a meeting of officials from neighbouring countries and Western powers such as the United States, Maliki said his government had made progress ‘in all directions’.”This government is working hard to develop the political situation.It has made many gains despite the huge destruction left by the former regime,” Maliki said.”We are at the beginning of the road, but at the same time, we say that what has been achieved is something promising.”Senior Democrats in the United States have slammed Maliki’s performance, with some even calling for his replacement.The assessments by Petraeus and Crocker are expected to highlight a reduction in violence in Iraq but also note the country’s failure to pass laws aimed at reconciling warring majority Shi’ites and Sunni Arabs.Petraeus said in a letter to troops on Friday that the government’s record on political reforms had been disappointing.Maliki, referring to attackers including Sunni Islamist al Qaeda, said all nations had a stake in making the region safer.”Evil wants to strike this or that country, it will not stop at the border of one country.For this, we have to stand together as a wall in the face of this evil,” Maliki said.The purpose of yesterday’s meeting was to review the work of several committees that were set up after a high-level conference in Egypt in May where ministers from the region and Western powers discussed ways to stabilise Iraq.The committees have been looking at greater cooperation in security, energy and economic matters.Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said discussions needed to include measures to tighten Iraq’s borders so “terrorists and killers” cannot get into and out of the country.Nampa-Reuters