A top-level European Union delegation arrived in Baghdad on Thursday, expressing hope for the EU’s new partnership with Iraq now that divisions over the United States-led invasion of more than two years ago are healed.
”In Europe, the war divided us, but now we are unified to help Iraq,” said Luxembourg Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean Asselborn, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency, following talks with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani.
”Yes, the Iraq war did divide Europe, but there is a new spirit and we have put the past behind us to work for this new future of Iraq,” said British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, whose country is due to take over the presidency in July.
EU external affairs commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner and foreign policy chief Javier Solana were also part of what was described as a ”historic visit” ahead of an international conference on Iraqi reconstruction later this month.
”I think it is a very deeply significant event because this is the beginning of a new political relationship that would grow into a real partnership,” said Ferrero-Waldner.
After meeting Talabani at his residence in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone, the delegation was due to hold talks with Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari.
The EU was thrown into crisis ahead of the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003, with countries such as Britain, Italy and Spain supporting the war, which France and Germany staunchly opposed.
”This is the first opportunity I’ve had to personally congratulate a very old friend on becoming president of the republic of Iraq,” Straw added.
”Your appointment, I do believe, symbolises the new future of Iraq,” he said of Talabani, who in April became the nation’s first Kurdish president after fighting the regime of toppled Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein for decades.
”Who would have thought under the period of Saddam that somebody who had to fight for his freedom and to fight for the freedom of his people would end up as the democratically appointed president of Iraq?” said Straw.
Talibani welcomed his guests and spoke about the conference on the war-torn country’s reconstruction due to begin in Brussels on June 22.
”The conference will not be held for Iraq, but in partnership with Iraq,” he said.
Asselborn stressed that the Brussels meeting will not be held to ”speak about Iraq. We will speak with Iraq.
”It will be a very, very important moment not only for Europe, but also for Iraq. We will do our best to help you to establish and restore the rule of law in Iraq.”
”There are wide possibilities for cooperation on the political front, on the security front, on the economic front, on the trade front and on the cultural front,” said Talabani.
”We need this support,” he added. ”I think there are tremendous opportunities for cooperation between Iraq and the European Union.”
The Brussels conference will bring together representatives from 85 countries and include a 40-member Iraqi delegation. — Sapa-AFP