POLISH STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF IRAQI GOVERNMENT

UNCLAS WARSAW 000944 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM IZ PL SUBJECT: POLISH STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF IRAQI GOVERNMENT REF: STATE 81632 The Polish Foreign Ministry issued the following statement May 22 marking the completion of the formation of the new Iraqi government. Begin unofficial translation of the Polish MFA statement. "Poland welcomes with great satisfaction the approval by the Iraqi parliament of the government headed by Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki. This will be the first constitutional government of the Republic of Iraq appointed by the parliament elected in general democratic elections. "With the beginning of the term of this new government the period of the transitional political process has ended in post-war Iraq and a decisive stage has begun in the consolidation of the state and people concerning the resolution of burning everyday problems and the strategy of building a stabile, secure and democratic state. The national unity government of Al-Maliki has a great task ahead of it and will need the support not only of the broad range of Iraqis but also of friends of Iraq worldwide. Poland for its part intends to continue to support through its actions the stabilization and reconstruction of Iraq. This will be one of our foreign policy priorities in the Middle East. We believe that the new government in Iraq will contribute to the intensification of traditionally friendly Polish-Iraqi relations and to the strengthening of mutually beneficial economic cooperation. This conviction has been expressed by Prime Minister Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz and Foreign Minister Anna Fotyga in congratulatory cables to their Iraqi counterparts. "We wish the new government of the Republic of Iraq the greatest success in the realization of its historic task to introduce lasting peace, security and welfare on the Iraqi soil that has experienced much hardship, in the framework of a unified state, taking into account the rights and aspirations of all its citizens." End unofficial translation. ASHE