Maliki calls for regional support

KUWAIT CITY, April 23 (UPI) -- The Iraqi prime minister Tuesday called on his neighbors to forgive Iraq's outstanding debt and establish formal diplomatic ties with the country.

Addressing a delegation of ministers gathered in Kuwait for the third regional meeting on security and political matters in Iraq, Nouri al-Maliki said Iraqi is paying the price of regional neglect, the BBC reported Tuesday.

"The bill of debt and compensation Iraq is paying is causing a heavy damage to our infrastructure and national economy," Maliki said at the opening session of the Gulf Cooperation Council on Iraq.

"We are still waiting for implementing pledges and commitments made to waive loans and compensation," he continued.

Maliki urged the delegation to engage Iraq by reopening its embassies in Baghdad.

"Many other foreign countries have diplomatic missions in Baghdad despite security considerations," he said.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who also attended the meeting, supports full diplomatic engagement by Iraq's neighbors as a way to contain Iran.