Baghdad (AsiaNews) – A firm stand against terrorism and a commitment of non interference in Iraq’s internal affairs.  Those were Premier Nouri al-Maliki’s key requests of delegates at the long awaited International Conference on security in Iraq, underway today in Bagdahd.  The Prime Minister’s address opened the public session of the meeting before the delegations got down to business behind closed doors. Expectations are high, as is the risk that today’s summit which draws together historic rivals USA, Iran and Syria, will produce no concrete end result.

The Conference – being held in the foreign ministry’s congress hall, which has already been rocked by two explosions close by – is being attended by a major regional players (Iran, Syria, Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Egypt); the 5 members of the UN Security Council (United States Russia, China, Great Britain and France) and representatives of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Conferences.

“We call on all to take moral responsibility by adopting a strong and clear stance against terrorism in Iraq and cooperate in stamping out forces of terror– declared Premier Maliki in his address – We demand that regional or international states refrain from interfering or influencing the Iraqi state of affaire through supporting a certain sect, ethnicity or party”. The US has long accused both Syria and Iran of fomenting violence in Iraq by supporting militias close to them. Diplomatic relations were severed between Washington and Tehran over 30 years ago while those with Damascus are best described as tense.  Yesterday during his official visit to Brazil President Gorge W Bush urged the two Middle Eastern governments to “help Iraq’s young democracy”.

Analysts maintain that it all depends on Iranian and the US intentions to find a common round for collaboration.  US ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalizad, said that the priority in any negotiation with Tehran will be arms supplies to Iraqi militants. For its part the Iranian regime, participating at the Conference, hopes to lessen international pressure over its nuclear development programme. 

Other tensions could arise from Turkey, which is vehemently opposed to the 2007 referendum which could see oil rich Kirkuk annexed to Kurdistan.  While Secretary General of the Arab League Amr Mussa, has already demanded a timetable for US troop withdrawal, the suppression of militias and the maintenance of a united Iraq.