EU reiterates support to Iraq’s unity

The EU Foreign Affairs Council discussed during its meeting in Luxembourg on Monday the situation im Iraq, focussing on the latest developments, in particular in Mosul and Nineveh province, and on the future stabilisation of the country.
The Council issued a statement praising the Iraqi Government and the Iraqi security forces for the significant advances they have made in the military campaign against the so-called Islamic State (IS) over the past months. It also reiterated EU support for Iraq’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Council emphasised the importance of an inclusive process of reconciliation both at national and local level, and the need to make tangible progress on political reforms to enable full national reconciliation.
The EU expressed its highest concern about the humanitarian situation in Iraq and stressed the importance of security and the rule of law for stability in the liberated areas and across the whole country.
In response to the request by the Iraqi authorities, the EU is examining the deployment of an EU Security Sector Reform Advice and Assist Team to assist in the reform efforts in cooperation and coherence with other international partners, it added. (end) nk.rk