UN praises UAE on Iraq debt and new embassy

The Government has won plaudits from key players in the international community.

Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary general, praised the UAE's decision to write off Iraq's debt and resume diplomatic relations.

UNITED NATIONS // The Government has won fresh plaudits from the US, the UN and key players in the international community for aiding Iraq's recovery with diplomatic and financial support. During a Security Council meeting at UN headquarters in New York yesterday, the UAE was repeatedly praised for appointing an ambassador to Baghdad and writing off billions of dollars of Iraqi debt.

A report from UN secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon, said "the decision of the United Arab Emirates to forgive Iraqi debt is a strong step that I hope is taken by others in the region". The world's top diplomat added that he hoped more countries would follow the example of the UAE, which together with Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain are "building forward-looking relationships" by resuming full diplomatic relations with Iraq.

His comments come just days after George W Bush, the US president, also praised the UAE's diplomatic efforts in the region. Mr Bush met Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, at Camp David earlier this week. Last month, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, announced the slashing of almost US$7 billion (Dh25.7bn) worth of Iraqi debt left over from the Saddam Hussein era.

The UAE was also the first GCC nation to name an ambassador to Baghdad since the US-led invasion in 2003. Mr Ban's sentiments, meanwhile, were echoed by Alejandro Wolff, a US ambassador speaking on behalf of the Multi-National Force - Iraq, who called on other Middle East nations to "follow their example" and establish diplomatic ties. Russia's UN envoy, Vitaly Churkin, applauded nations that had offered financial support, while Iraq's ambassador, Hamid al Bayati, highlighted his "appreciation" of the UAE "to forgive Iraq's debt".

In his Security Council briefing, Lynn Pascoe, UN undersecretary general for political affairs, said security had improved across most of Iraq in the past three months but added that much more progress was needed on the political front. "Violent incidents and casualties have declined and we have witnessed the improved performance of Iraq security forces during a series of operations," Mr Pascoe said, adding that it was necessary to cement security gains with "strengthened and sustained political dialogue" among the country's rival factions.

The UN's top political official said failure to agree on new electoral legislation would mean provincial elections, which are seen as a crucial test of Iraq's democracy, could not go ahead. "The UN has been doing all it can to urge practical compromises," said Mr Pascoe. "A failure to come to agreement on a law at this time would be a major setback, not only for the prospects of elections this year but for the larger process of national reconciliation in Iraq."

According to the US, civilian deaths have dropped by 65 per cent; coalition military deaths have decreased by 96 per cent; and the overall number of attacks has dropped by 84 per cent since June last year. Responding to the accolades it had received in the Security Council meeting, Anwar al Barout, chargé d'affaires of the UAE mission to the UN, said the Government would continue to back Iraq. "The UAE decision to appoint an ambassador in Iraq and write off Iraq's debt embodies the brotherhood ties between the people of the two countries, and expresses the desire of the UAE Government to effectively contribute to improving Iraq's economy and help its government implement plans and projects for reconstruction and rehabilitation," said Mr Barout.

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