EU Council Conclusions on Iraq

The Council adopted the following conclusions:

"1. The Council warmly welcomes the attendance of Foreign Minister of Iraq, H E Hoshyar Zebari, and the opportunity to enhance the political engagement of the EU with Iraq and to reiterate the commitments made by the EU to support Iraq. Following discussions with FM Zebari and taking into account the views of the Government of Iraq, the Council, recalling its current actions, agreed that the EU should work closely with the UN to further identify and deliver support for it to fulfil its role as set out in UNSCR 1770; identify further contributions to help alleviate the humanitarian situation in Iraq and the region; identify and take opportunities to provide further human rights support; and assist the Iraqi authorities in meeting their responsibilities in accordance with the International Compact with Iraq (ICI) and identify and provide further support.

2. The EU welcomes the holding of the Expanded Ministerial Conference of the Neighbouring Countries of Iraq in Istanbul on 2 - 3 November 2007. The Council underlines the importance of continuing the dialogue and co-operation between Iraq and its neighbours and notes with satisfaction that the next Ministerial Conference will be held in Kuwait. It recalls that constructive engagement of Iraq's neighbours and partners in the region remains essential to achieve peace and stability in Iraq and in the region as a whole and encourages all partners in the region to live up to the commitments made in the Final Communiqué of the Istanbul meeting. The EU remains ready to offer its support in this endeavour.

3. The Council emphasises the obligation of neighbouring countries to contribute to the political stabilisation of Iraq, whose territorial integrity should be preserved. It encourages the Government of Iraq to undertake all necessary measures to promote stability through an effective national reconciliation process.

4. The Council welcomes the decision by the Government of Iraq to form an "ad-hoc expanded neighbours support mechanism" to deal with substantive, technical and organizational issues concerning this process and the endorsement of this decision by the Ministerial Conference in Istanbul. The Council expects the Neighbours process, and in particular this support mechanism, to result in concrete steps forward, and emphasises the crucial role of constructive relations between Iraq and its neighbours at the political and technical level.

5. The Council emphasizes the importance of the essential input and recommendations provided by the three working groups on energy, security and refugees and internally displaced persons, which were established by the Expanded Ministerial Conference on 4 May in Sharm El Sheikh. It notes with satisfaction the decision by the Ministerial Conference of Istanbul to convene the next sessions of these groups and calls for those meetings to be held as soon as possible. It encourages all neighbouring countries to participate constructively in this work and reiterates its readiness to participate, assist and provide expertise to these working groups.

6. The Council recalls the obligation of the Government of Iraq, its neighbouring countries and the international community, as expressed in Istanbul, to protect and assist displaced Iraqis by addressing their immediate and foreseeable needs and ensure their safety. It calls upon the Iraqi Government to assist vulnerable groups, including refugees and internally displaced persons and to promote the protection of human rights. The EU reiterates that it stands ready to support the Iraqi authorities in the field of human rights and fundamental freedoms, underlining the need to protect the rights of all Iraqis, including those of women and persons belonging to religious and ethnic minorities. The Council calls upon the Iraqi Government to suspend the practice of the death penalty as a step towards abolition. The

EU especially welcomes work of UNAMI in the field of human rights and calls upon all relevant parties to support UNAMI in this endeavour. The EU will continue to identify in a concerted way possibilities for further assistance to the Iraqi refugees in neighbouring countries and internally displaced persons. It recalls the commitment made by participants in the Istanbul Conference to deliver assistance in coordination with the Government of Iraq also by contributing to the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI).

7. The Council is encouraged by and considers of utmost importance the continued dialogue and co-operation between Iraq and Turkey on the combat of terrorism. It calls on the Iraqi Government and the Kurdistan Regional Government to take the appropriate measures to ensure respect for the Turkish border and guarantee that the Iraqi territory is not used for violent action against its neighbours. "

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• European Commission allocates €50 million to alleviate plight of Iraqi refugees in Syria and Jordan (12/12/2007)
• Iraq: third round of negotiations for Trade and Cooperation Agreement (27/11/2007)
• Iraqi Foreign Minister Zebari speaks with EU Parliament (21/11/2007)
• EU External Relations Council Conclusions (20/11/2007)
• EU Council Conclusions on Iraq (16/10/2007)
• al-Mashhadani, Speaker of Iraqi Parliament visits EU Parliament  (2/10/2007)
• EU Presidency Statement - United Nations: International Compact with Iraq (20/7/2007)
• Iraq, Transnistria, Vietnam: EU Parliament on Human rights situations (12/7/2007)