Abul-Gheit: Egypt sheds light on unity of Iraq

"Egypt's speech before an international conference on Iraq, to open in Brussels today will focus on the importance of the commitment to maintaining Iraq's unity and to a timetable for the political process there," said Foreign Minster Ahmad Abul -Gheit.

In statements upon arrival in Brussels, Abul- Gheit said Egypt will also shed light on the need for all Iraqi sects to take part in such a process.

Egypt will also assert its keenness on supporting Iraq in its efforts to surpass the current tough stage, he said.

Egypt and the UN will co-chair the conference's political session which will mainly deal with steps taken so far in the political process in Iraq in accordance with a timetable cited in UNSC resolution 1546 as well as other steps taken in drafting the new constitution, boosting state institutions and unifying Iraqi ranks.

The Foreign Minister said that Egypt spared no effort to extend the political and technical support to the Iraqi people and the interim government.

Abul -Gheit cited Egypt's efforts to train Iraqi cadres and extend expertise in many domains, including the electricity, irrigation, housing and urban planning sectors, in addition to training Iraqi diplomats at the Cairo-based Diplomatic Studies Institute. He said the Egyptian Red Crescent was making arrangements for the dispatch of medical aid to Iraq worth 600,000 Egyptian pounds.

The Foreign Minister met yesterday at a working dinner, with United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, EU security and foreign policy Chief Javier Solana,US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov for consultations over the meeting agenda.

The conference, called by the European Union and the United States, is expected to issue a document stressing the importance of extending political and economic support to Iraq and committing to preserving Iraq's unity and territorial integrity.

The document is to stress the exigency of realising stability in Iraq and completing the political process there in accordance with UNSC resolution 1546, along with means to help Iraq play its role as an effective member on the Arab and international arenas.

The international conference on Iraq, which kicks off in Brussels today, will discuss conditions in Iraq and prospects of carrying on with further steps in the political process to achieve stability in the Iraqi society.