BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights Thomas Melia said that Iraq has achieved a significant progress in the past few years to set up a democratic system, which includes real institutions, asserting that mush still to be done to announce Iraq as a real democratic country.

Melia, who visited Iraq recently, said his visit came a few day before the World Day of Human Rights to be acquainted with the human rights situation and democracy in the country, noting that the State Department is very much interested in that and seeks in coordination with other embassies in the region to be updated with the latest developments in human rights and democracy fields throughout the world.

He told Aswat al-Iraq news agency hat he held 20 meetings in the past three days with several politicians and representatives of the Civil Society , as well as lawmakers to underlined the US government's seriousness on encouraging and supporting the human rights activities.

He expressed belief that Iraq has achieved a significant progress to establish a democratic system.

He attributed such progress compared to Iraq in 2003, to the current institutions in the country, as Iraq is now a country of intuitions, which respect human rights.

He pointed out that through his meetings with civil society organizations and human rights defenders found that "many are trying to pressure the government in order to continue the process of reform and push democracy forward," noting, "We in the United States went through this stage 230 years ago and pass the same stages since we got our independence and are always trying to improve and develop the democratic system in the United States and though we see until now some U.S.
states carry out executions.
"

SH (TR)/SR