Iraq Development Program - PM urges Britain to help rebuild Basra

PM urges Britain to help rebuild Basra (17/12/07) Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has discussed with the visiting British Foreign Secretary David Miliband bilateral ties and the handover of the Basra security file.

		The Prime Minister called on Britain to contribute in the reconstruction projects in Basra and other provinces. "The handover of Basra is a strong sign of the development of our armed forces' capabilities and their ability to bear responsibility," al-Maliki said during his meeting with Miliband. "Al-Maliki asserted his country's keenness to maintain best ties with Britain in various domains," al-Maliki's office said.
"The national reconciliation is the only way for Iraq's unity," he emphasized. "The coming stage will witness the establishment of reconstruction projects in Basra and other provinces," he added. He called on Britain to contribute in these projects to support and develop the Iraqi economy. The statement quoted Miliband as saying that "the handover of the oil-rich province of Basra by the British military to Iraqi forces will not diminish Britain's role in Iraq." "We remain very committed to support Iraqi government politically, economically, as well as militarily," he also said. On Sunday, the British military formally handed over control of security in the province of Basra to the Iraqis, mkaing it the ninth of the country's 18 provinces to be transferred to local forces by the US-led coalition. Source: Aswat Al-Iraq

PM urges Britain to help rebuild Basra (17/12/07)