US and Iraqi officials are pleading for billions to rebuild Iraq at a donors conference that opened yesterday with appeals for generosity and warnings that they might not get all they need right away.
Despite the unanimous approval last week of a new UN resolution setting out Iraq's future course, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan acknowledged lingering divisions over Washington's still-prominent role in running the country might deter some donors.
But he insisted such concerns should be set aside.
PHOTO: AFP
"The long-term challenge of reconstruction has to be faced by all of us," he said in his opening remarks.
Security remains a primary constraint "both now and into the foreseeable future," he said, and rebuilding the country is closely linked to the wider political process.
"But a start to reconstruction cannot be deferred until that day," he said. "It demands our urgent attention now. I appeal to donors to give and give generously."
France and Germany, leading opponents of the US-led war, have both cited concerns about the slow pace of restoring Iraq's sovereignty for their refusal to pledge any new money now.
Ahead of the meeting, Annan and US Secretary of State Colin Powell sought to lower expectations that Washington would come away with the entire US$35.8 billion through 2007 it hopes to raise to jump-start Iraq's economic recovery.
"I don't expect governments to announce everything they are going to do for Iraq in the future tomorrow," Annan said Wednesday night. "But tomorrow and the day after will be an important beginning."
Powell also acknowledged "it may take time to meet the goal" of more than US$55 billion set by the World Bank, which includes the George W. Bush administration's nearly US$20 billion pledge.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said his country was looking for "serious contributions in funds and not loans" when pledges are announced today, adding "the sooner the better."
Fears about safety and stability in Iraq, where US-led coalition forces are coming under daily attack, should not be an obstacle, he said.
"It is our belief that reconstruction contributes to improving security conditions," Zebari said. "These funds will create job opportunities and in an indirect way will contribute to consolidating stability and providing more confidence."
He also said he expected Arab Gulf states to contribute, adding it would be "shameful" if they didn't. Kuwait promised a "generous" package, but did not specify how much.
Talking to reporters as he flew to Madrid from Egypt, Powell also set his sights on Iraqi assets held in Syrian banks, saying he may take the matter up with Syrian delegates at the meeting.
An estimated US$3 billion is reported to be in Syrian banks, but Powell said he had not "heard a number quite that high."
But, he said, there were "certainly numbers of significant magnitude" and that it was "Iraqi money and we would like to get it back to the Iraqi people."
Although pledges announced so far total just a few billion dollars, the host of the conference, Spain, tried to sound upbeat.
"The Iraqi people are looking to us," said Foreign Minister Ana Palacio in her opening remarks. "We won't let them down"
So far, Japan has pledged US$1.5 billion for next year; South Korea has agreed to US$200 million, and Canada, US$150 million. The World Bank has said it will lend Iraq US$3 billion to US$5 billion over the coming five years.
Spain pledged US$300 million through 2007 and Britain US$439 million for 2004-2005. Both were firm supporters of the war.
The EU's head office has limited its contribution to one year, promising US$233 million.
A separate US$20 billion package is now before the US Congress, and will go mainly toward security in Iraq and resurrecting its oil industry.
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