Iraqi parliamentary chairman calls for greater Czech, EU role in Iraq

Iraqi parliamentary chairman Mahmoud Mashadani, heading a delegation on a four-day visit to Prague, has told journalists that the Czech Republic as well as other EU countries should play a greater role in the economic transformation, as well as training of security forces, in Iraq. Mr Mashadani and other Iraqi officials have met with Czech representatives including the head of the lower house Miloslav Vlcek. On Thursday the Iraqi politician stressed that Czechs should make use of historic past cooperation between the two countries, going back decades. The Czech Republic began contributing to renewal projects in Iraq in 2003. The Foreign Ministry earmarked almost 50 million crowns (the equivalent of around 2.5 million US dollars) to projects in the years 2004 to 2006.

Lower house chairman Miloslav Vlcek, meanwhile, has made clear more Iraqi parliamentarians will be invited to the Czech Republic in the future to discuss former Czechoslovakia's own transformation from a totalitarian regime to a democratic state.