EU buries ‘bitter’ divisions on Iraq, says Straw
Europe is united behind Iraq’s goal of a democratic government and free elections, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said in Baghdad yesterday.
Mr Straw made a surprise visit to the capital, joining Iraqi president Jalal Talabani and prime minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari and the others members of an European delegation, ahead of a key US-EU conference on June 22 in Brussels, which will address security and the rule of law in Iraq.
The delegation is comprised of EU foreign affairs chief Javier Solana, external affairs commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Jean Asselborn, Luxembourg’s foreign minister.
In Iraq, Mr Straw said divisions over the direction of Iraq among EU politicians had been set aside as leaders looked “forward in a united way”.
“Europe was divided over the Iraq war, bitterly divided,” he told Iraqi officials.
Mr Solana, for his part, said the international community was focussed on building a “prosperous,” “stable” and “united” Iraq.
Meanwhile, Mr Ferrero-Waldner pledged another 200 million euros (134 million pounds) in EU funding. It has already spent 300 million euros.
Iraq is to send a 40-strong delegation to the conference in Brussels.
Some eighty-five countries are to attend the gathering.
