September 2006
On July 27, 2006, the United Nations and the Government of Iraq jointly launched the International Compact for Iraq. The Compact's aim is to strengthen peace in Iraq through committing Baghdad to a series of political, social, security, and economic reforms over the next five years in exchange for a substantial increase in international aid.
The UN initiated the Compact at the request of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and President Bush, both of whom have called for greater efforts to rebuild Iraq's economy, a key to political stability. Under the Compact, Iraq commits itself to meeting the basic needs and protecting the rights of all Iraqi citizens; ensuring the optimal use of the country's resources for the common good; treating all the country's ethnic groups fairly and equally; sharing its oil resources through a transparent energy sector; fighting corruption; and adhering to rigorous budgets. In return, the UN commits to support and facilitate the Compact by bringing together the international donor community and multilateral organizations to help Iraq achieve its national vision.
International Support for the Compact
The International Compact for Iraq received immediate support in the United States. President Bush directed his Cabinet to work with the UN in developing the Compact and asked Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Robert Kimmit to lead the effort. Kimmit has now traveled to Europe, Iraq, and the Middle East with State Department Counselor Philip Zelikow and met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and other senior Iraqi officials. The terms of the Compact are being developed and an international donors' conference for Iraq is expected by the end of November 2006.
The UN and the Government of Iraq will chair meetings to develop the Compact. Other countries involved in the Compact's Preparatory Group include the U.S., the EU, France, Germany, Britain, Italy, Spain, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.
The Development and Future of the Compact
Development of the Compact began in June, when the Government of Iraq requested that Secretary-General Annan work closely with Iraqi leaders, the UN Development Program, the donor community, the World Bank, and others to come up with a joint approach to support Iraq's new government. Annan designated Deputy Secretary-General Mark Malloch Brown, Special Representative to Iraq Ashraf Qazi, and Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih as co-chairs to oversee this project.
In July 2006, Deputy Secretary-General Brown conferred with Iraqi leaders in Baghdad to promote the partnership and set up the Preparatory Group, which will advise on the development of the Compact. The Compact will be overseen by an executive committee that includes the Government of Iraq, UN officials, the World Bank, the IMF, and other regional financial institutions.
In September 2006, broader consultations with the international community will take place in New York at the next meeting of the UN General Assembly, followed by an update to finance ministers at the annual World Bank/IMF meeting in Singapore. By taking into account estimates of how much financial support Iraq will need to rebuild its economy, the group hopes to develop a financing plan during the fall of 2006. The finalized Compact, including priorities, benchmarks, and commitments, will be presented by the Government of Iraq by the end of 2006.
More Information on the Reconstruction of Iraq
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