EU Presidency Statement on bombing of Iraqi Parliament

The Presidency of the European Union condemns in the strongest possible terms the attack on the Iraqi parliament on 12 April in which eight people were killed and many others were injured. The Presidency conveys its sympathy to the families of the victims and wishes those who have been injured a speedy recovery.

This was an attack on a major symbol of the nascent Iraqi democracy. The Iraqi people, by holding elections and referendums under extremely difficult conditions, have proved that they want to shape their country in a peaceful and democratic fashion.

The Presidency hopes that the Iraqi people and government will not let violent extremists distract them from this course, and it calls upon all groups and parties in Iraq to embrace their country's development towards peace and freedom.

The international community has a duty to strengthen Iraqi democracy using all means at its disposal. The conferences scheduled to be held in Egypt on 3 and 4 May will make a major contribution towards that end.

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• EUHR Solana meeting with Special Advisor to UN Secretary-General Gambari on International Compact with Iraq  (27/4/2007)
• EU Council Conclusions on Iraq (23/4/2007)
• EUHR Solana condemns terrorist attack in Iraqi Parliament (12/4/2007)
• International Compact with Iraq - European Community Statement (16/3/2007)
• EU Commission plans new humanitarian funding of over €10 M for victims of Iraq crisis (15/2/2007)
• EU Presidency Statement on Iraq (12/1/2007)