led Iraq war were now history because "we are all in a partnership," Zebari said. German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said the meeting would help in Iraq's "democratic stabilization." In a reference to involving the Sunni minority in the political process, Fischer insisted the government in Baghdad must ensure that all religious and ethnic groups were included in the drafting of a new constitution. A statement issued by the conference called for "national reconciliation" in Iraq, saying all groups which rejected violence should be allowed to participate in the country's politics. Drafting the new constitution must be a "participatory, transparent process that responds to the demands of all constituencies," United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan insisted. "Achieving consensus on a new constitution will require compromise," Annan said. Spotlighting the need to revive Iraq's devastated economy, Minister of Finance Ali Allawi called on donors to write off Iraq's debt burden, saying this was crucial for ensuring that "economic revival commences in earnest." --More 2207 Local Time 1907 GMT
