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Egypt: International conference on Iraq
opens 3.5.2007 |
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May 3, 2007
SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, An international
conference aimed at launching a five-year plan to
stabilise Iraq opened Thursday in the Egyptian
resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
The gathering got under way with remarks from
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit, to be
followed by speeches from Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri
al-Maliki and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
Foreign ministers and top diplomats from more than
50 countries are attending the two-day conference,
seen as the biggest diplomatic push to solve Iraq's
woes since the 2003 US-led liberation.
On Thursday, participants were expected to adopt the
International Compact with Iraq (ICI), a five-year
plan to stabilise the war-torn country and develop
its moribund economy.
Senior Arab officials said U.S. Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice will meet both Iranian Foreign
Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and Syrian Foreign
Minister Walid al-Moualem.
A time has not been set for any meetings and the
United States has not confirmed they will happen.
"If it happens, it could happen today, said a U.S.
official travelling with Rice. "Any encounter with
the Iranian will not likely be a substantive
discussion," he added.
U.S. officials say there is a higher probability
Rice will meet with Moualem, who will be with Rice
on Friday at an expanded meeting of Middle East
peace mediators.
The Compact for Iraq is a five-year plan which would
pledge financial, political and technical support to
Iraqi institutions in return for political, security
and economic reforms.
AFP | Reuters
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