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Reconstruction in Iraq must start: Schroeder

DUBAI - Violence in the Israel-Palestine conflict in any form is unacceptable to Germany, be it suicide bombings or the recent Israeli aggression against Syria, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said yesterday. The chancellor was speaking at a Press conference at the Media City in Dubai yesterday. The American war on Iraq and the ongoing but painfully slow process of the country's reconstruction and the issues pertaining to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict dominated the Press conference.

Mr Schroeder commented that though his visit to the UAE is mainly focussed on developing economic ties, it also touched upon the situation in the region.

On the reconstruction process in Iraq, Mr Schroeder said, "No matter what position we took on the war, we all agree that now the reconstruction begins and democracy is installed in the country."

"The United Nations should and will have to play a more important part in the reconstruction of Iraq and we need a time schedule in step by step process," Mr Schroeder said.

Replying to a question on the security situation in Iraq, he noted that the security situation can improve "if we can get the Iraqi security service to handle it."

He said that security personnel from Iraq can be given training in Germany but added that it would be more helpful if the same can be carried out in the region itself.

"Nobody disagrees on the point that we have to fight terrorism and this is one of the issues we spoke about," Mr Schroeder said. Referring to a point raised during the Press conference on the supposedly large scale money laundering operations by terrorists, he noted that "it is an important issue and we have the necessary resolution in the Security Council. We are involved in the process with neighbouring European countries."

Mr Schroeder also spoke on Germany's economic conditions, the country's agenda of a better social security system by 2010 and the factors that have hampered and burdened the current social security system.

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