U.N. chief calls for global support for Iraqi reconstruction

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said that supporting an economic and political reform package for Iraq will encourage national reconciliation, The Associated Press reported Sunday.

Ban will be attending a conference in Egypt Thursday to launch the International Compact with Iraq, which contains economic and political initiatives aimed at healing the ongoing sectarian violence in the country. Notable provisions include amnesty for insurgents who renounce violence and the creation of a human rights commission. Ban said that the compact can make a difference by sending a “strong message” to the Iraqi people regarding the need to facilitate national reconciliation. Ban and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki will look to push conference participants to forgive Iraq’s debts and allocate financial assistance to help realize the compact’s objectives. However, Arab countries have said they would only be willing to do so if the Shiite-led Iraqi government strengthens its efforts to reach out to Sunni Arabs. Al-Maliki, though, said last week that he would not tolerate other Arab countries setting conditions on his government

For full article, click here.