Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

EU says preparations for Iraq conference going well

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Brussels, June 14, IRNA
EU-Iraq Conference
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.

"We also see the role of Iraq's neighbors as highly important," stressed Asselborn.

An EU troika visited Baghdad last week to discuss preparations of the conference with the Iraqi leadership.

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