BAGHDAD, Iraq, July 14 (NNN-NINA) – The European Union (EU)’s top diplomat, Federica Mogherini said that, the EU supports Iraq’s proposal to hold peace conference, to ease tensions between the United States and Iran.
Mogherini made her comment during a joint press conference with Iraqi Foreign Minister, Mohammed al-Hakim, during her official visit to the Iraqi capital Baghdad.
“We support completely the idea of regional conference that Iraqi is proposing and the EU is fully behind that and fully ready to support this idea,” Mogherini told reporters.
Mogherini said, she held talks with Iraqi leaders and discussed the need to ease tensions and to pursue means to hold dialogue, to avoid serious consequences of miscalculations.
Mogherini stressed that “the EU is continuing to work with Iraq, to achieve the goals set by the reconstruction conference held in Kuwait in Feb, 2018, in order to provide a better future for the people of Iraq,” the statement said.
She confirmed that the EU has contributed 1.2 billion euros (1.35 billion U.S. dollars), in humanitarian assistance, stabilisation, economic development, and security cooperation since 2014, according to the statement.
The two sides held extensive discussions on the latest developments in the Middle East and affirmed their common commitment to peace and stability in the region.
The two sides also agreed on the need to reduce the escalation of current tensions in the region and warned of their consequences, expressing their common desire to support activities and initiatives to promote dialogue instead of confrontation, it added.
Mogherini also met with Iraqi President, Barham Salih, who confirmed that “Iraq is keen through its international relations, to establish peace and stability and to calm the crises in the region and the world.”
Salih stressed the need to work together to spare the peoples of the region the scourge of war, pointing out the importance of coordination and consultation with the EU on current issues and developments, the statement said.
Mogherini also met with Iraqi Prime Minister, Adel Abdul Mahdi, who confirmed that “Iraq gave a high price for its victory over the Daesh, and the results of this victory is important for Iraq, the region and the world, including the European Union,” according to a statement by Mahdi’s office.
For her part, Mogherini stressed that, the main purpose of her visit to Baghdad is to emphasise EU’s support for Iraq politically, morally and financially, the statement added.
Mogherini, on her second visit to Iraq since 2014, also met with the Speaker of Parliament, Mohammed al-Halbousi, and discussed with him bilateral relations, as well as, EU’s support to the Iraqi government.
Mogherini is scheduled to fly to neighbouring Kuwait with the aim of strengthening EU’s relation with it and to further enhance its engagement with the region.– NNN-NINA
