SECRETARY-GENERAL ENCOURAGED BY TALKS ON MEETING ON BORDER SECURITY FOR IRAQ

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General is encouraged by the discussions held in Baghdad on Saturday in preparation for a meeting of Foreign Ministers of the countries neighbouring Iraq.  He hopes that the positive atmosphere of the meeting, which was attended not only by Iraq’s neighbours, but also by representatives of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, the Arab League and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, will carry over into the activities of the working groups formed on border security, refugees and internally displaced persons, and fuel imports.

The Secretary-General reiterates the need for countries around the region and for the international community more broadly to play a constructive role in support of a stable, secure and democratic Iraq.

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For information media • not an official record