Accessibility links

Breaking News

Straw Says World Coalescing Behind Iraq


Jack Straw (file photo) 22 June 2005 -- British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw says that the international community has overcome its divisions over the U.S.-led war in Iraq.

Straw spoke today in Brussels at an international conference on Iraq.

"What [the conference] emphasizes and symbolizes is that the international community, having been deeply divided during the course and before the military action, has now come together actively to support the building of a democratic, peaceful and prosperous Iraq," Straw said.

Also today, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned Syria against aiding Iraqi insurgents. Rice said that Iraq's neighbors must secure their borders "against those who would destroy Iraq."

The conference has drawn foreign ministers and other officials from more than 70 countries and organizations.

At the conference, Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Ja'fari said that his government wants the presence of multinational forces in Iraq to remain provisional and for Iraq to take charge of national security as soon as possible. But, he said Iraq needs for its neighbors to close their borders to infiltration by terrorists.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan also spoke at the conference.

"The international community supports the government and the people of Iraq and we are determined that the reconstruction of Iraq, as outlined one year ago in Security Council Resolution 1546, must succeed," Annan said.

(CNN/Reuters/AP)

See also:

Iraq To Call On Donor States To Follow Through

RFE/RL Special: The New Iraq

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG