Iraq to play pivotal role at regional level, FM says in Davos

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari on Thursday said Iraq will play an important regional role in the coming stage, noting the new U.S. administration has sent good indications about relations with the Arab and Muslim world. “All facts on the ground show that violence is diminishing in Iraq with greater confidence among the Iraqi people,” Zebari said in statements during his participation in the Davos World Economic Forum (WEF), which opened in Switzerland today (Jan. 29). “Iraq will witness three elections: the first will be on Saturday (Jan. 31) for local councils, the second in the summer on the security pact and the third will be general elections scheduled to be held by this year’s end,” said Zebari, noting “this year will be one of hope for the Iraqis”. Taking part in the five-day WEF meeting in the Swiss town of Davos about 2,500 figures from 96 nations, including 41 heads of state and government, 17 ministers of finance and 19 central bank governors as well as 1,400 chief executive officers. This year’s meeting is focusing on banking crisis, economic recession and the apocalypse of capital markets in what was considered the worst crisis ever in modern history. AmR (P) 1