Hopes are pinned on an international conference on Iraq in Brussels to facilitate Iraqi national reconciliation, writes Salah Hemeid The European Union and Iraq have joined the United States in hosting an international conference on 22 June in Brussels aimed at demonstrating the world's solidarity with the war- torn country and helping with its political and economic reconstruction. Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said on Sunday that his transitional government wants the conference to provide "tangible" assistance in rebuilding Iraq rather than simply paying lip service as the world has repeatedly done. "It is imperative that the conference serves as a platform for providing real, practical and concrete assistance for the Iraqi people," Zebari said in a press conference. Zebari and other Iraqi officials expressed hope that three issues would top the conference agenda: world backing for the current political process, financial assistance, and help in restoring law and order to Iraq. A 40-member strong delegation led by Prime Minister Ibrahim Al-Jaafari was expected to attend the conference and press these demands. Few details have been released about the one day conference, designed to build on several previous international gatherings that promised to provide political backing and financial aid for Iraq's rebuilding. In particular, the current meeting builds on the conference held between Iraq's neighbouring countries and the G8 group in Sharm El-Sheikh in November of last year. At that conference, which was also attended by China, participants agreed to "provide support for the reconstruction of Iraq and create the necessary conditions to achieve economic and social development, thereby contributing to the efforts to achieve stability and security in Iraq." As is apparent by the current condition of Iraq, the promised assistance did not materialise. After the 31 January elections that brought the Shia-Kurdish government to power, violence has claimed thousands of lives across Iraq in what has been the bloodiest six months since the end of the war. The Iraqi government has claimed success in cracking down on insurgents after its forces launched its biggest military offensive against suspected terrorists in Baghdad and surrounding towns. At least 1,000 suspected insurgents have been detained since the start of the crackdown on 30 May. The crackdown, dubbed Operation Lightning, was carried out by some 40,000 Iraqi troops. Yet using a stick without a political carrot might be contributing to existing tensions in Iraq. Pursuing political engagement with the disgruntled Arab Sunnis rather than resorting to military effort alone in ending the insurgency will likely be a primary concern of the conference. Aware that it should not waiver in its resolve, the Iraqi government has insisted on defeating the insurgents militarily while offering a place on the political bandwagon for Sunni Arabs. The majority of Iraq's Sunni Arabs boycotted January's parliamentary elections, and those who participated won few seats in the 275-member national assembly. When the Shia-Kurdish coalition formed a constitutional committee last month, only two Sunni Arabs were included. Since then, leaders from across Iraq have been working to include more Sunni Arabs in drafting the constitution, slated to be completed by 15 August. If the committee fails to meet the deadline, the mandate for the constitutional committee would be extended six months, but that would delay a referendum on it scheduled for 15 October and ultimately postpone the election of a permanent government. Last week, political leaders of the Shia-Kurdish coalition said they had reached a compromise to include more Sunni Arabs on the committee responsible for writing the country's new constitution. Under the compromise, the new panel will include members of the existing committee, in addition to 15 Sunni Arabs with full voting rights and 10 more Sunnis in an advisory, non-voting role. This arrangement may drive a wedge between the Sunni Arab mainstream and the hard line rebels who have threatened to kill any Sunni that agrees to join the political process. There is little sign though that the instability in Iraq will be settled easily or soon and further deterioration in Iraq will have negative consequences for the region and the world. This may explain why the Iraqi interim government, the US and the EU have invited representatives of 85 nations to meet in Brussels to think more creatively about how to craft a sustainable strategy for Iraq and the region if the world wants to avoid a nightmare scenario. Writing in Monday's edition of the London-based newspaper Al-Hayat, EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana underscored the international community's awareness of the necessity for peace and stability in Iraq. "The transitional period Iraq is passing through has reached a crucial stage. Our goal is crystal clear: to help rebuild a united, safe and democratic Iraq which will contribute to the region's stability," wrote Solana. "An international consensus which was missing is now at hand," he added. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, writing in The Washington Post Tuesday, assured the Iraqi people that the international community "stands with them in their brave efforts to rebuild their country". But Annan also emphasised the need for "a broad-based and inclusive strategy that embraces the political transition, development, human rights and institution-building, so that all of Iraq's communities see they stand to be winners in the new Iraq." Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit struck a similar note. Before heading to Brussels to co-chair the political committee of the conference, Abul-Gheit said Egypt is in contact with Iraqis of different political, ethnic and religious affiliations in an attempt to help them reach a consensus on the political process. The statement reflects increasing awareness and possibly increasing willingness by regional powers to support a broad dialogue that will clear the way for national reconciliation.
