3rd FMs Conference of Iraq Neighbors wraps up

22 April 2008

Kuwait City-The third foreign ministers' conference of Iraq's neighbors wound up here on Tuesday after issuing a 20-point statement.

The draft statement had been studied in an expert meeting and preparatory session of the ministerial meeting.

Foreign ministers and officials from 29 countries, regional and international organizations and institutions studied issues relating to Iraq, including restoration of security and stability to the country and the return of refugees.

The final statement stressed Iraq's unity and territorial integrity, terming foreign intervention in the occupied state 'unacceptable'.

It did not touch on continued presence of foreign troops, especially the US forces, in Iraq.

The document stresses continued activity of the energy, refugees and security committees and countries' commitment to help Iraq.

It also urges all countries, especially Iraq's neighbors, to reopen their embassies in Iraq.

The participants also condemned and asked a halt to terrorist acts in Iraq and support Baghdad anti-terrorism campaign.

Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki represented Iran at the meeting, which was also attended by the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, French Foreign Minister Robert Kouchner, Arab League Chief Amr Moussa, and Secretary General of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council Abdulrahman al-Attiyah.

Meanwhile, Kuwait's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad al-Sabah said on Tuesday that the next Iraq neighbors conference will be held in Baghdad for the first time.

"The next conference will be held in Baghdad," al-Sabah told reporters at the end of a ministerial meeting in Kuwait City.

"This is in recognition by the conference of the improvement of the security situation in Iraq," the Kuwaiti minister said.

He did not give a date for the next conference, which will be the fourth. The two earlier conferences were held in Egypt last May and Turkey in November.