Stockholm International Peace Research Institute Forecasts Problems in Iraq

Director of the major international centre of political studies forecasts difficulties in the course of the post-war settlement in Iraq. "It will be relatively hard to take a decision on Iraqi reconstruction, so that it could satisfy all peoples and religious groups in the country - Sunnites, Shiites, Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen," Director of Stockholm International Peace Research Institute /SIPRI/ Alison Bailes told a RIA Novosti correspondent.

She believes, "it is now absolutely obvious that restoration of Iraq and democracy-based reconstruction of its political and social life will be much harder than to gain victory and destroy the country's industrial potential within such a short period of time." "The hardest task is to build such an Iraq, which can be viewed legitimate by its citizens, as well as by its neighbours," she noted. These issues can not be solved by military means and by US efforts only, Alison Bailes stressed.

The post-war settlement in Iraq can be implemented "only with the participation of international organisations and, primarily - the UN," she stressed.

The SIPRI Director also stressed the important role of neighbouring Iran and Syria in the Iraqi post-war reconstruction.