United Nations, July 30: Nato secretary general Lord Robertson called for greater international involvement in Iraq, saying the more global organizations are engaged the better the situation will be on the ground. "But ultimately it will be for the people of Iraq to make a decision as to whether they take ownership of their country and make it safe and peaceful and prosperous again," Robertson said.
Robertson spoke to reporters briefly yesterday during a two-day meeting at UN headquarters between the United Nations and regional organizations.
Asked how the meeting and the involvement of international and regional organizations could help the situation in Iraq, the Nato chief said there were lessons to be learned from the Balkans and Afghanistan. The military alliance played a prominent role in the Balkans and is set to take charge of the peacekeeping force in Kabul on Aug 11.
What the international community learned in the Balkans, Robertson said, "was that it's the interaction and the cooperation between organizations that has the maximum effect."
Asked what role Nato could play in Iraq, he noted that 11 Nato countries are in the country along with six of the seven countries that are going to join the military alliance next year, "so we're already engaged and involved".
Would greater international involvement help bring more legitimacy to the operation in Iraq?
"The more international organizations that are involved, the more the international community engages in the situation in Iraq after the war, then the better it is going to be," Robertson said. Bureau Report