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UN talks pursue Iraq rescue plan UN vows to broaden role on Iraq
(about 3 hours later)
High-level talks have opened at the UN in New York on improving the economy, development and security of Iraq. The UN is ready to broaden its activity in support of Iraq, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said.
The meeting, co-chaired by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki, brings together Iraq, its neighbours and major donor nations. Mr Ban said at a key meeting in New York the time for determined action on Iraq had come, but that a greater UN presence would need better security.
It is also focusing on how to bolster the UN presence in Iraq as called by a Security Council resolution in August. The UN withdrew most of its staff in 2003 after a bomb killed its top envoy and 21 others but Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki says he can now guarantee UN security.
The UN withdrew most of its staff in 2003 after a bomb killed its top envoy, Sergio Vieira de Mello, and 21 others. Iraq, its neighbours and major donor nations are attending the meeting.
Delegates in New York are also discussing ways to stabilise the political situation and end sectarian strife. Refugees
Maliki's pledge Mr Ban described the talks, which he co-chaired with Mr Maliki, as "positive and supportive".
The talks began shortly after 1600 local time (2000 GMT) on Saturday. Mr Ban said: "There was a clear agreement that the international community cannot turn away from, or ignore Iraq. Its stability is our common concern."
UN AUGUST RESOLUTION Authorises UN envoy to help Iraqi government in political, economic, electoral, constitutional, refugee and human-rights issuesPromotes talks among ethnic and religious groups Promotes talks between Iraq and neighbours on border security, energy and refugees under UN auspices Raises UN staff in Iraq to 95UN AUGUST RESOLUTION Authorises UN envoy to help Iraqi government in political, economic, electoral, constitutional, refugee and human-rights issuesPromotes talks among ethnic and religious groups Promotes talks between Iraq and neighbours on border security, energy and refugees under UN auspices Raises UN staff in Iraq to 95
Speaking after an earlier meeting with Mr Ban, Mr Maliki said his government would provide any necessary security for an expanded UN mission in the country. BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says Mr Ban's tone was emphatic - the time for collective action had come.
"The security situation... has begun to develop tremendously, and the Baghdad of today is different from the Baghdad of yesterday," Mr Maliki was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency. But although Mr Ban said he was seriously considering a modest increase in staff when facilities were ready, our correspondent says it is clear that security will be the principle factor governing the scale and pace of any expanded UN role.
The UN is also being charged with helping to bring about talks between Iraq and other countries in the region. The bombing of the UN's Baghdad headquarters in 2003, with the loss of envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello and 21 others, has meant there is now only a small presence in the country.
Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Turkey, Jordan and Saudi Arabia are taking part in the talks, as is US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. After a meeting with Mr Ban, Mr Maliki said the security situation had "improved a lot in Baghdad".
The August UN resolution underscored the shifting approach of the US administration to Iraq, says the BBC's diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus. "We are going to be able to provide security to the UN in a way that will allow it to perform its role in an effective manner," he said.
He says the US is desperate to reduce its military entanglement in Iraq, believing that regional countries have a role to play in reducing violence there. A greater UN role was called for in a Security Council resolution in August.
Raising money for the reconstruction of Iraq and how to deal with the humanitarian crisis are other problems on the agenda. Mr Ban said peace could not come through military action alone
Mr Ban also said peace in Iraq could not be attained through military means alone and that regional cooperation was vital.
The talks have also been focusing on improving the economy, development and security of Iraq, and on stabilising the political situation and ending sectarian strife.
How to deal with the humanitarian crisis is another key issue.
There are more than two million Iraqi refugees who have fled the country, as well as two million who are displaced within Iraq.There are more than two million Iraqi refugees who have fled the country, as well as two million who are displaced within Iraq.
Key economic powers like Germany and Japan; regional players like Saudi Arabia and Iran; and representatives from international economic organisations like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank have all been at the meeting at UN headquarters.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is also attending.
Our correspondent, Jonathan Marcus, says the August UN resolution underscored the shifting approach of the US administration to Iraq.
He says the US is desperate to reduce its military entanglement in Iraq, believing that regional countries have a role to play in reducing violence there.