Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari says his country is on the “right path” toward a stable democracy, and that he believes there is a need for continuing U.S. military training of Iraqi forces.

In remarks Tuesday to the Council on Foreign Relations, Zebari said corruption and mismanagement remain prevalent in Iraq, but the country is capable of resolving its own internal problems.

The foreign minister said he disagrees with concerns about Baghdad's ability to maintain security after U.S. troops withdraw from Iraq at the end of the year. U.S. officials and other Iraqi leaders have expressed those fears, but Zebari said Iraqis are committed to resisting sectarian conflict.

He also said he believes more U.S. military training is needed, citing recent operations by neighboring Turkey and Iran against Kurdish militants in northern Iraq.

Zebari said he believes Iraq's example removed the “taboo” of seeking international help, and led to the so-called “Arab Spring” of popular uprisings that have swept across much of North Africa and the Middle East this year.

He gave the example of Libya, where NATO has carried out airstrikes against forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi, and said European forces have also fought on the ground to help oust the former leader. There has been no public confirmation of any European troops operating on the ground in Libya.