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U.S. and EU rally Iraq support
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YOUR E-MAIL ALERTSBRUSSELS, Belgium -- The United States, United Nations and European Union have pledged to support a reform plan by top members of Iraq's transitional government aimed at securing order, rejuvenating the economy and drafting a new constitution. Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari put forward his government's priorities for reconstruction at a one-day conference that brought together more than 80 senior officials from nations and organizations around the world. The conference adopted a declaration of support, saying that those in attendance backed the transitional government's "efforts to achieve a democratic, pluralist, federal and unified Iraq, reflecting the will of the Iraqi people, in which there is full respect for political and human rights." The Iraqis requested Wednesday's conference -- co-sponsored by the EU and the United States -- expecting strong support from the world community. "We have presented our visions and our priorities to you. Now it's your turn to look at those elements and those priorities to see where you can help," Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said in closing remarks. He set out four top priorities: drafting a constitution and holding elections on time; securing the stability of the country; rebuilding the economy; and healing ties with neighbors. To carry out those tasks, Zebari asked for help training Iraq's military and for its neighbors to take serious action in controlling their borders to prevent insurgents from infiltrating into Iraq. Detailed policies and decision were left until a donors' meeting in Amman, Jordan, next month. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Iraq must improve security, develop its economy and "open political space for all members of Iraqi society who reject violence." She added: "Syria has a responsibility ... not to allow its territory to be used for the gathering of people who are wreaking havoc and causing harm against innocent Iraqis." Syria's Foreign Minister Farouq al-Shara, who attended the conference, accused the U.S. -- not by name -- of denying his country the proper monitoring equipment needed to police the frontier. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan called the broad show of support "a turning point" in Iraq's history, adding: "Ultimately, of course, Iraq's future lies in the hands of the Iraqis themselves." The comments come as the new U.S. ambassador to Iraq says extremists are trying to start a civil war in that country, and are using Iraqis as "cannon fodder." Zalmay Khalilzad assumed his new post on Tuesday after arriving in Baghdad from Afghanistan, where he'd also served as ambassador. In Washington, two days after confirming his intention to explore a presidential run, Delaware Sen. Joe Biden warned Tuesday that a "credibility chasm" is undermining U.S. chances for success in the Iraq war. Biden, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, urged U.S. President George W. Bush to make major course changes in Iraq before Americans turned their backs on the conflict.(Full story) Recent polls have shown declining public support for the U.S. policy in Iraq. (Full story) NATO plans to expand its training operation from the Green Zone in Baghdad to an academy outside the city by September, with a goal of turning out 1,000 officers a year for Iraq's 170,000-strong security forces. Copyright 2005 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report. 
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