Kuwait, April 22: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Tuesday said it is committed to taking forward the Iraqi political process for peace and stability in the war-ravaged country, WAM reported.

Peace in Iraq is essential for enduring stability and prosperity of the Gulf region, Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan told the opening session of the third expanded conference of foreign ministers the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

''As part of that aspiration, we all look forward to Iraq being a full and active partner, both contributing to the process of development and benefiting from it as this will contribute to maintaining security, stability and prosperity in our region,'' Abdullah said.

He pointed out that the recent improvement in the security situation in Iraq is a positive sign.

''We look forward to further improvements in the days, weeks and months ahead, so that the people of Iraq may be spared from the cycle of destruction and bloodshed that has afflicted them for so long."

That improvement in the security situation, however, he maintained, will only come about if further progress is made in the continuing efforts to achieve political and national reconciliation in Iraq.

''The United Arab Emirates remains committed to that objective, and we hope that this meeting will give a further impetus to that process,'' Abdullah concluded.

The conference was opened by Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al Mohammed Al Sabah.

The first GCC foreign ministers' conference was held in Egypt and the second in Turkey in the last two years.

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