The Baghdad conference has served as a platform for participants
to make efforts to restore peace and stability in Iraq, Chinese
experts said.
"Evincing a spirit of reconciliation and co-operation, the
willingness of all the parties, particularly the United States,
Iran and Syria to sit at the same table has itself sent a positive
signal," Gong Shaopeng, a professor with China Foreign Affairs
University, told China Daily.
"The consensus on the launch of another regional meeting and
setting up working groups on border security, fuel imports and
refugees is constructive to rally regional support and stem the
sectarian violence in Iraq," said Yin Gang, a senior researcher
with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
According to Gong, it came as no surprise that there is a wide
gulf between Washington and Teheran over the nature of the crisis
and the ways to end it during the meeting. Washington has
repeatedly accused Iran and Syria of fomenting violence in Iraq,
charges both countries deny.
It is unrealistic to expect the meeting to solve all problems,
the experts said, adding that Washington's changed policies toward
the two countries may help them to play a role in easing the
situation in Iraq.
The meeting appeared at least to thwart deepening tensions among
the parties and was a vote of confidence for Iraq's stability, they
said.
(China Daily March 12, 2007)
