(unofficial translation)
2nd Seminar on National Reconciliation of Iraq
Final Statement
Invited by the Government of Japan and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), 11 members of the Iraqi delegation participated in the 2nd Seminar on National Reconciliation of Iraq from March 20 to March 28, 2008. Sessions were held in Tokyo and Hiroshima. Of the 11 members of the delegation, 9 were members of parliament, including heads of party and committee.
The delegation exchanged views on some peace building models of other countries with Japanese experts. They also exchanged information and experiences of the international society which are useful for conflict resolution and achieving peace and stability in Iraq.
The delegation visited Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Park and Museum and learned Japan's post-war peace building and reconstruction experiences. At the Hiroshima International Center, the delegation met representatives from civil society, and after making a presentation, they exchanged views on the current situation and future perspectives of Iraq.
In Tokyo, the delegation attended a lecture on Japan-U.S. relationship and Japan-U.S. Security Treaty. They also discussed among themselves important issues for Iraqis, i.e., "Federalism," "Amendment of the Constitution" and "Oil and Gas Law." Further, they met with representatives from the Japan-Iraq Parliamentary Friendship Association and Nippon Keidanren. In those meetings, they discussed the current situation of Iraq and mutual cooperation between Japan and Iraq, especially in the area of economy.
The delegation agreed:
- (1) To make further efforts to advance the process of national reconciliation and to continue such efforts. It has been confirmed that it is necessary for all concerned parties to show flexibility, be brave and have "give-and-take" spirit in order to achieve fundamental and new progress in advancing national reconciliation.
- (2) To establish a principle of equality among all the Iraqis in accordance with the Constitution to achieve integrity of Iraq, and to assure participation of all stakeholders in decision making of the political process, especially on important issues of the nation.
- (3) To undertake, without fail, amendment of the Constitution, which has been left pending for a long time as further delay might also stop efforts to end the political stalemate, and to try to avoid harmful and hasty amendment at the same time.
- (4) That women's role is practical and necessary to assure national reconciliation and stabilization of the political process.
- (5) That it is necessary for Iraq, which now stands at the outset of the reconstruction process with a potential for economic growth, to legislate a new Oil and Gas Law without delay. The legislation enables Iraq to obtain profit from the petroleum which is essential to assure revenues. To begin with, it is necessary to thoroughly examine the content of the law in order to maintain national reconciliation of the Iraqis.
- (6) That Japanese experiences of the post-war reconstruction deserve to be learned. It is necessary to arrange further visits, observation trips and meetings to observe various aspects of Japan and to exchange general data and experiences among related organizations of Iraq and Japan. Such Japanese experiences include human resources development, training of workers and improvement of skills in various areas.
- (7) That Japan can play a direct and important role in Iraqi reconstruction and comprehensive growth. Japanese companies are needed to participate in this process from now on, and such participation can be materialized through collaboration with Iraqi companies and other local agents or investment in Kurdish region in which the security situation is relatively stable.
Further, the Iraqi delegation met with Mr. Koumura, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kimura, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs and representatives of JICA. In those meetings, the delegation discussed the current Iraqi situation as they did with Japanese members of parliament. The Iraqi delegation expressed gratitude towards Japan's assistance for Iraq. They also praised the Seminar and confirmed that the Seminar was useful and expressed their expectation for further holding on such seminars. Representatives of the Government of Japan made it clear that the Government of Japan will continue to follow-up on the progress of national reconciliation of Iraq including the points raised in this statement, and to regularly receive feed back from Iraqi side on such progress.
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