UN, Iraq launch joint initiative to support peace, reconstruction

The United Nations and the Iraqi government launched on Thursday a joint initiative to garner international support for the violence-torn country's reconstruction over the next five years.

The International Compact, sponsored by the World Bank, will bring together the international community and multilateral organizations to help Iraq achieve its national vision, said a statement issued by the world body and the Iraqi government.

"To achieve this vision, the government of Iraq has undertaken to make progress on political inclusion and consensus building, on the rule of law, and on the establishment of professional security forces," it said.

Marie Okabe, spokesperson for Secretary-General Kofi Annan, explained that vision as that of "a united, federal and democratic country, at peace with its neighbors and itself, well on its way to sustainable economic self-sufficiency and prosperity and well integrated in its region and the world."

An executive committee appointed by the UN and Iraq will be tasked to manage the process towards the adoption of the compact and formulate a strategy for economic development and reforms to integrate Iraq within the regional and global communities.

The UN and Iraq will also work with interested groups and nations, and then hold broader talks with the international community in New York in September at the next meeting of the UN General Assembly, followed by an update to finance ministers at the annual World Bank/International Monetary Fund meeting in Singapore.

Source: Xinhua