Annan lauds Arab League meeting seeking Iraqi reconciliation, vows UN support
21 November 2005 – Praising the Arab League for holding a preparatory meeting of Iraqi factions in Cairo over the weekend to pave the way towards national reconciliation in the strife-torn country, Secretary-General Kofi Annan today pledged continued United Nations support for a full-blown conference to achieve the goal.
"The Secretary-General commends the League of Arab States for the holding of the Preparatory Meeting for the Conference on Iraqi National Accord," Mr. Annan said in a statement issued by his spokesman.
"The Secretary-General is pleased that the meeting was attended by a broad range of representatives of Iraq's different communities, who seized the opportunity to discuss national reconciliation and the future of their country," the statement added.
"The Secretary-General has asked his Special Representative to continue to work closely with the League and with the Iraqi Government in the preparations for the proposed Conference."
Special Representative Ashraf Qazi attended the Cairo meeting and delivered a message from Mr. Annan in which the Secretary-General declared that regional initiatives have a "crucial role to play in nurturing broad national dialogue and reconciliation in Iraq, in full respect of Iraq's national sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence."
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