/ 3 May 2007

Iraq conference adopts five-year rescue plan

A five-year plan aimed at stabilising Iraq known as the ”International Compact” was overwhelmingly adopted on Thursday at a key conference in Egypt, a senior United Nations official told the media.

”The resolution to support Iraq and to pull it out of its crisis has been adopted by acclamation by all the participants,” the UN’s point man in Iraq, Ashraf Qazi, said.

No vote took place but the rescue plan was approved by a general consensus, he explained.

The International Compact with Iraq (ICI) is an initiative drafted by the UN, World Bank and Baghdad aimed at stabilising Iraq on the political, economic and security levels.

”We know the road ahead is long and tough but we also know that the Iraqi government alone will not be able to do it,” Qazi said.

”The international community undertook a vow to support Iraq in its crisis.”

Foreign ministers and top diplomats from more than 50 countries were gathered in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh for a two-day conference aimed at lifting Iraq out of chaos.

The meeting marked the biggest diplomatic push to solve Iraq’s woes since the 2003 United States-led invasion. — Sapa-AFP