Xinhua, China
April 21 2004

Iraq’s neighbors to meet on Iraq reconstruction

MEXICO CITY, April 20 (Xinhuanet) — The parliamentary presidents
of Iraq’s neighboring countries are to hold meetings next month in
Amman, Jordan, to move forward the reconstruction of democratic
institutions in Iraq after the United States transfers power to a
local government.

Parliamentary presidents of Iran, Syria, Kuwait, Jordan,
Turkeyand Saudi Arabia would attend the meeting, Chilean Senator and
President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Sergio Paez Verdugo
said Tuesday during the 110th IPU assembly.

A representative of the United Nations (UN) and a member of the
Iraqi Governing Council will also participate in the meeting,
Paezadded.

About 1,500 people, 700 of them being legislators from 138
nations, are taking part in the 110th IPU assembly in Mexico, which
started Sunday and will end next Friday.

During the assembly, the lawmakers expressed their concerns over
the situation in Iraq and the worsening Israeli-Palestinian conflict
after the assassination of Hamas leaders. They also called for unity
of all nations in the fight against terrorism.

The parliamentary presidents of Iraq’s neighboring nations met
Monday to discuss the situation in Iraq. During the meeting,
lawmakers from Poland, Armenia, Palestine and the European Parliament
demanded that the United Sates transfer power to the Iraqi people as
soon as possible.

At the 110th assembly, the legislators will also discuss
post-conflict reconstruction, parliamentary contribution to fair
trade and the importance of parliamentary democracy in protecting
human rights.

On Monday night, the assembly passed an additional proposal to
include Israel’s construction of separation wall into conference
agenda, saying the separation wall is an obstacle to realizing peace
between Israel and Palestine. Enditem