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Účastníci Kuvajtské mezinárodní konference k rekonstrukci Iráku
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Deputy Minister Tlapa at the Kuwaiti Conferences on Reconstruction of Iraq and on Fight against ISIL

 

Deputy Minister Martin Tlapa represented the Czech Republic at the Kuwait International Conference for the Reconstruction of Iraq, which was held under the auspices of Sabah as-Sabah, the Emir of Kuwait, between February 12 and 14, 2018. He also took part in the ministerial meeting of the Global Coalition against ISIL.

Nearly a hundred foreign delegations and scores of representatives of private and non-governmental sector took part in the Kuwait International Conference for the Reconstruction of Iraq. They all agreed on the necessity of the overall reconstruction of Iraq, particularly in the field of basic infrastructure, health care, basic services, housing, administrative and educational institutions and ensuring security. Support for Iraq's unity and national reconciliation is also an important issue. The participants expressed their commitment to cooperate with the World Bank, the UN and the EU in providing Iraq with bilateral and multilateral assistance that would also include credits for investments and other projects. 

Deputy Minister Tlapa stressed in his speech that it is important to give people hope and to help them return to the normal way of life. The Czech Republic can also share its experience with the process of transformation, particularly in relation to creating good and transparent environment for the private sector. Czech assistance also consists of activities supporting the security and defence sector like police training or military health care.

The Czech Republic has been actively participating in the assistance to Iraq. Between the years 2012 and 2017 it spent more than 160 million CZK on mostly humanitarian projects and support for international organizations that provide help to the suffering population of Iraq. These activities will continue in the future in even greater volume. In 2018 alone, the Czechia plans to spend at least 35 million CZK on humanitarian projects, support for the internally displaced or training the security forces in C-IED (removal of explosive devices). The government has recently approved the program of Czech participation in the reconstruction and stabilization of Iraq and allocated 180 million CZK for the 2019–2021 period. This will allow the Czech Republic not only to proceed with the ongoing humanitarian and development projects, but also support Czech subjects, which want to take part in the Iraq reconstruction efforts.   

The Ministerial meeting of the Global Coalition against ISIL was held under the presidency of Kuwait and the US. It confirmed the ongoing threat of ISIL and other global terrorist groups, even after the military might of ISIL in Iraq and Syria was mostly eliminated. The Coalition members agreed on the need for cooperation in supporting the process of stabilization and recovery of the areas freed from ISIL. Only restoration of the country to its normal ways can prevent the return of violence and terrorism.

In the margin of the conference, Deputy Minister Tlapa met with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait Sabah al-Khalid as-Sabah and his deputy Khalid al-Jarallah. Deputy Minister Tlapa reiterated the invitation for the Minister of Foreign Affairs to visit the Czech Republic. Deputy Minister Tlapa then talked with the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Khalid al-Fadhel on the issue of bilateral investment and business activities and with the Director General of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) Abdulwahhab al-Bader about the possibility of Czech and Kuwaiti companies cooperating in the reconstruction of Iraq and presentation of Czech companies in Kuwait.

Meeting with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Khalid al-Jarallah

Meeting with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Khalid al-Jarallah

 

Meeting with the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Khalid al-Fadhel

Meeting with the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Khalid al-Fadhel

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