(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA))
KUWAIT, Aug 28 (KUNA) - The Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership brought together Saturday regional leaders to show support for Iraq in its war on terror and agree on a series of measures to promote regional cooperation and partnership in a variety of domains.
At the conclusion of their one-day gathering, the conferees concurred on the need to address regional challenges on basis of good neighborliness, non-interference in internal affairs and respect of national sovereignty.
The participant heads of states and governments called for uniting regional and international efforts to bring about stability and security for the area.
They welcomed Iraq's diplomacy which contributed to reaching common grounds at regional and international levels in a drive to boost political, economic and security partnerships.
They said Iraq succeeded in adopting constructive dialogue which resulted in hosting the conference.
The participants praised Iraq's sacrifices in the war against terror, and welcomed development of Iraq's military and security capabilities.
They also welcomed the Iraqi government's economic reform plans which would contribute to creation of suitable economic environment, sustainable development and creation of jobs.
They voiced support for the Iraqi government's efforts to provide services and allowing return of internally displaced persons.
Addressing the conferees, Representative of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah noted that the convention is held at critical and crucial time in the region.
Sheikh Sabah Khaled emphasized that the region could never witness stability as long as Iraq remained unstable. "Iraq is one of the basic security and economic foundations in the region," he said, lauding the nation success in overcoming and tackling majority of the problems it had encountered since years back.
Iraq will experience a pivotal phase in its political process that is the parliamentary elections due on October 10 (2021), Sheikh Sabah Khaled stated, noting that the nation would need support from the regional states and the international community to back up the scheduled polling process.
The Kuwaiti prime minister noted further that the support for Iraq would entail bolstering its sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, non-intervention in its domestic affairs and meeting aspirations of the Iraqi people.
The State of Kuwait is among the leading states in the region that sense and interact with the difficult security and economic conditions in Iraq, "thus we will not be reluctant in supporting it in the hardest times," he stressed.
Citing a tangible example of Kuwait's unwavering support for Iraq, His Highness the prime minister recalled the initiative by the Leader of Humanitarian Action, the late Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, where he masterminded the holding of the international conference for rebuilding Iraq regions demolished by "Daesh," held in February 2018. The convention ended with a USD 30 billion pledge for aiding Iraq.
The pledges depicted the State of Kuwait and the international community's commitment to back Iraq in the phase post the victory on terrorism for surpassing the difficult circumstances and ensuring comeback of the relocated Iraqis.
Moreover, the State of Kuwait responded several times to international appeals to meet needs of the displaced Iraqi people, in coordination with the UN Higher Commission for Refugees, in addition to coordinating with charities' campaigns to aid those who had been locally displaced in all Iraqi governorates.
"Recently, for sake of empowering the Iraqi health system to cope with repercussions of the coronavirus, the State of Kuwait presented USD 10 million to Iraq via the World Health Organization, in addition to supervising and follow-up on part of Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development with regard of the second phase of the Kuwaiti grant on repairing and rehabilitating 30 health centers with a sum amounting to USD 85 million, after completing the first stage of the project at USD 15 million." Furthermore, the State of Kuwait had responded several times to international appeals to secure needs for the displaced Iraq in coordination with the UNHCR, in tandem with the campaign "Kuwait on your side." As to the Iraqi-Kuwaiti relations, "they have been evolving steadily; motivated by serious resolve and joint will from leaderships of the two countries toward bolstering these bonds in various sectors." Noting Kuwait's aspiration toward implementing bilateral accords, His Highness the prime minister lauded Iraq's honoring of its commitments; stipulated in the Security Council Resolution 2107 concerning the missing Kuwaitis and citizens of third states and the Kuwaiti properties including the national archive.
"We praise Iraq's cooperation and applaud what has been achieved so far. We also encourage continuing these intensive efforts regarding the missing Kuwaitis and citizens of third states whose number amounts to 328," he said.
His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled thanked the Iraqi Government, members of the tripartite commission and the sub-committee of the International Committee of the Red Cross, efforts of whom resulted in determining destiny of the located human remains. "We look forward toward ending this humanitarian tragedy as soon as possible," he said.
He also expressed gratitude to the UN mission for aiding Iraq (UNAMI) for its vital role in following on the file of the missing and the Kuwaiti properties according to the UNSC Resolution 2107, and facilitating transport of the human remains to the State of Kuwait in cooperating with the Iraqi authorities and the ICRC.
"We hope the cooperation will continue with the same pace to resolve all pending matters and start bolstering confidence and elevating the relations to higher levels for serving mutual interests," Sheikh Sabah Khaled added.
He reiterated Kuwait's commitment to supporting Iraq amid the existing difficulties noting that the Kuwaiti private sector readiness to partake in Iraq's reconstruction, wishing Iraq further progress and prosperity.
Addressing the inaugural session, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Khadhemi said Iraq's organizing of this conference "embodies Iraq's vision toward establishing the best relations with states of the world on the basis of cooperation and integration." Such an approach is designed to make dialogue the dominant tool for communication, he said, affirming that it is also aimed at basing the ties among the stakeholders on partnerships and mutual respect.
For his part, French President Emmanuel Macron said the holding of the convention affirms the notion that cooperation and partnership are the basis for achieving regional peace.
The French president affirmed that the convention prime goal is aiding Iraq in its bids to bolster stability, combat terrorism, reiterating Paris' backing for the Iraqi security apparatuses.
Also addressing the inaugural session, Qatari Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani said the region is currently witnessing challenges.
The hotbeds of tension in the region threaten not only the Gulf but also global peace and security, the Qatari Amir added.
"We affirm our keenness on unity of Iraq, bolstering states' institutions and unity of the arms under the state sovereignty." King Abdullah II of Jordan said the gathering signals Iraq's central role for building bridges and boosting dialogue among the regional countries.
Moreover, it depicts keenness of the stakeholders on boosting the sovereignty of law, maintaining Iraq's territorial unity and supporting the Iraqi people toward more progress and prosperity, he said.
For his turn, Egyptian President Abdelfattah El-Sisi called on the regional countries to enhance their potentials in the face of common challenges and backing up Iraq in its endeavors toward reforms and solidifying its status among states of the world.
President Al-Sisi said Iraq had been negatively affected for years with terrorism and wars that brought plights for the Iraqi people.
A number of ministers who headed their country's delegations to Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership, and heads of regional organizations, expressed their support for progress and stability in Iraq on Saturday.
Arab League Secretary General Ahmad Abul Gheit said that Iraq has suffered enough over the past decades and paid a high price through risky adventures and conflicts that disrupted its progress and its march to prosperity, stressing that Iraq is not alone in the fight against terrorism.
He added that Iraq has fought an honorable war against terrorism since 2014 in defense of the values of civilization and humanity.
The League's chief, noted, "today we all gather here in the city of peace to tell Iraq that it does not stand in this battle alone and that bloodshed is precious blood for all of us." Abul Gheit believed that the state of regional tension and polarization had harmed Iraq, deprived it of benefiting from its potential, and plunged it into a cycle of security and political dilemmas and economic and social challenges.
He pointed out that currently Iraq seeks to build a new relationship with the region based on mutual benefit, respect and cooperation, which is a commendable trend that reflected positively on the overall relations in the region and opened up areas for economic cooperation between them.
The League's Secretary General added everyone wants Iraq to become a country free of conflicts, a bridge for communication, and that it does not become an arena for fighting, but rather a space for reconciliation.
Abul Gheit expressed his belief that countries in the region can manage fruitful relations, which would benefit all, and he acknowledged that one expects all countries in this region to agree on everything.
He argued the region faces common challenges and its countries can achieve a lot if they agree on critical issues that form the basis for stable relations in any regional anywhere in the world.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said that the kingdom's leadership spares no effort in supporting Iraq in various forums and at various levels, asserting that his attendance at the conference confirms the continuation of such work and cooperation to enhance Iraq's security and stability.
The Saudi minister praised the achievements of the Iraqi-Saudi Coordination Council and the prospects for cooperation in various political, security, investment and tourism fields and the establishment of a joint Saudi-Iraqi fund with a capital of USD three billion dollars.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Hussein Amirabdulahian, said in his speech to the conference that he hopes such conferences will lead to a full, growing and free region, pointing out that Iraq today plays an important role with efforts and visions in the region.
He added that his country was one of the first countries to support the new Iraq by supporting the political contexts and processes, as well as economic and trade cooperation with it.
For his part, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Iraq's stability is vital to achieving lasting peace in the region, adding that if Iraq does not enjoy stability, neither its neighbors nor the region will be able to achieve stability.
He added that Turkey considers all the Iraqi people as brothers without any ethnic or sectarian discrimination, and that it supports the approach of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Khadhemi, which embraces all groups. (end) ibi
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