UN-sponsored International Compact for Iraqi development winds up preparatory stage

The United Nations-backed International Compact with Iraq (ICI) held its final preparatory meeting in Kuwait today as it seeks to consolidate peace in the violence-torn country and pursue political, economic and social development over the next five years.

The meeting was attended by representatives of 20 States, regional and multilateral institutions, the formal members of the preparatory group for the ICI, which has been developed by the Iraqi Government with UN and World Bank support, to tackle the challenges of security, good governance and the provision of basic services.

“Iraq’s international partners have pledged to provide financial, technical and political support to help meet these challenges on the basis of mutual commitments to the necessary steps required to realize their shared vision for the normalization of Iraq,” the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) said in a statement.

“The United Nations also reaffirmed its commitment to the success of the Compact and its continued intention to support the promotion and implementation of the ICI, through its mission and agencies in Iraq and the good offices of the Secretary-General and his representatives.”

The formal adoption of ICI’s specific agenda is scheduled at a high-level meeting during the next six weeks.

At the time the Compact was launched in July, Secretary-General Kofi Annan called it “an opportunity for the international community to build a strong partnership with Iraq and the wider region” with a “framework for a defined, prioritized and benchmarked economic programme for the next five years.”