He said Chile could make a modest, yet important contribution to improving conditions in the Arab country.

"We want to contribute to make peace which we are enjoying here," said Lagos, adding that it would be "through a modest collaboration that could help reconstruct and cure wounds."

He also noted that the US-led coalition may stay in Iraq to provide security in postwar Iraq.

"The important thing is recognizing reality as it is, meaning that security could only be in the hands of allied troops, the waythings are," he said.

He said he had made contact with his Mexican counterpart, Vicente Fox, and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar to see how it would be possible to participate in Iraq's reconstruction, mainly in providing humanitarian relief.

Lagos said Chileans must feel proud of belonging to a country whose position was in keeping with the United Nations Security Council, "in favor of peace and a multilateral solution of the conflict."

(Xinhua News Agency April 11, 2003)