Ban Ki-moon supports meeting on Iraq bringing together US, Iran and Syria

A spokesperson for United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today voiced support for the new diplomatic initiative that will bring together Iraq’s neighbours and the five permanent members of the Security Council in a meeting in Baghdad.

Responding to press questions, Michele Montas noted that the United States, Syria and Iran would be represented and said Mr. Ban would be sending his Special Representative for Iraq, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, to attend the meeting as an observer.

“The Secretary-General hopes that the participants in the preparatory meeting will focus on urgently needed steps to reduce violence in Iraq and help stabilize the situation in the region,” Ms. Montas added, noting that he had discussed this idea with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari during their recent meeting in Berlin.

“It is in keeping with the call the UN has been making for a convergence of national, regional and international efforts in support of the people and Government of Iraq,” she said.