China View
August 18, 2004

BERLIN, (Xinhuanet) — German Chancellor Gerhard Schroederon Wednesday pledged to help rebuild Iraq by helping train new Iraqi forces in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and reducing Iraq’sdebts.

“We want to help. It is in the interest of everyone to ensure that there is greater stability in the region,” Schroeder told a press conference in Berlin.

Schroeder said an preparatory work had been done with the UAE for the training program.

“It will be carried out in the UAE, not in Iraq,” he added.

The German government is ready to “substantially” reduce Iraq’sdebts to Germany to ensure more funds were put to the post-war reconstruction of the country, he said.

Berlin had earlier resisted calls to remit the debts, local media reported.

Iraqi Interim President Ghazi al-Yawar will visit Berlin from September 9 to September 12 and Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi had also accepted an invitation to visit, Schroeder said.