AMMAN, Jan 6 (AFP) - Iraq`s neighbours on Thursday called for a massive turnout in the country`s landmark elections and pledged not to interfere in Iraq`s internal affairs, as they concluded a four-hour meeting in Jordan.
In a show of unity underscoring the urgency of the situation, the foreign ministers of Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Turkey and a senior Iranian official said Iraqis must freely decide their future at the polls.
A 12-point statement said the delegates agreed "to reconfirm their respect for the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Iraq as well as the relevance of the principles of non-interference in internal affairs ... and the principle of good neighbourly relations".
They also "affirm the right of the Iraqi people to a secure and stable life and to determine freely their future through democratic means," and commit themselves to helping Iraqis reach these goals.
"In this regard the ministers urge all segments of the broad spectrum of the Iraqi people to take up their duty in the forthcoming elections, thus contributing to the shaping of their future.
"The elections represent the only opportunity in sight along the path of democracy and freedom," the statement added.
The delegates, including Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Gholam Ali Khoshro, agreed to hold a new meeting devoted to Iraq in Istanbul, Turkey, after the January 30 vote.
Jordanian Foreign Minister Hani Mulki opened the meeting with a passionate appeal on the Iraqis to seize the "golden opportunity" and massively vote in the election that will chose a national assembly to draft a constitution.
"From this podium I urge all the factions of the Iraqi people to go to the polls to choose who they feel will represent them best," Mulki said.
He also warned that a boycott of the polls made by several Iraqi groups, notably Sunni Muslim parties, will pave the way for external meddling in Iraq.
"It is important for all Iraqi to participate ... Failing to do so will keep the door open to others to decide for them," he said.
Earlier King Abdullah told Kuwait`s Al-Rai Al-Aam newspaper the Iraqis should decide their future without foreign meddling.
"Iraqis alone have the right to determine their future by taking part in an election free of external influence that may produce a government... which represents a group at the expense of another," the monarch said.
Khoshro, whose foreign minister boycotted the conference over allegations by Jordan`s King Abdullah II that Shiite Iran was trying to bring about a Shiite victory in Iraq, said Iraq`s neighbours should "facilitate and encourage" the election.
"All the Iraqi people should participate. Neighbouring countries should facilitate, help and encourage this democratic process, which is in the interest of all neighbouring countries," Khoshro said.
"The Iraqi people should participate as much as they can. Everybody in Iraq, every part of Iraq should be able to participate. This is the united position in this meeting," Khoshro said.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari had earlier told reporters that Iran and other neighbouring countries should refrain from interfering in his country`s elections.
"The message we`re going to give them in this meeting is to refrain from any interference ... that would affect the outcome of this election," Zebari said before the conference.
"That`s why we call on all our neighbors, including Iran, to help us in a positive and good faith to be able to make our own decisions, to have our own legitimate, representative government after these elections," he added.
He also called for Syria and other neighbours for action, "not words," to secure common borders against the infiltration of terrorist groups fighting an insurgency in Iraq.
The statement called on "the need to enhance mutual cooperation on border security and cross-border movement, supporting the fight against terrorism and illegal movement of funds for terrorist activities".
The conference was also attended by Egypt, the UN envoy to Iraq and Bahrain.
01/06/2005 18:34 GMT - AFP