Verklaring van de Europese Unie op VN-topontmoeting over Irak (en)

UNITED NATIONS

High-Level Meeting on Iraq

Statement on behalf of the Presidency of the European Union

H.E. Ms. Marjatta Rasi

Under-Secretary of State for Development Co-operation

Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland  

New York, 18 September 2006

Check against delivery

Secretary-General, President Talabani, Distinguished Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have the honour to take the floor on behalf of the Presidency of the European Union.

First of all, I would like to express our appreciation to Secretary-General Annan for organising this important gathering. I would also like to thank the Secretary-General, President Talabani, Special Representative Qazi and Deputy Prime Minister Saleh for their frank and insightful interventions. This High Level Meeting provides a timely opportunity to review progress in the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1546 and the preparations of the International Compact with Iraq. It is also yet another expression of the continued commitment and unwavering support of the United Nations towards Iraq, which the EU highly values.

The European Union, for its part, is deeply committed to Iraq. Most recently, the Heads of State and Government of the EU, at their summit meeting in June, underlined this commitment in a declaration setting out the aims and agenda for our future cooperation with Iraq. The declaration shows clearly that with a constitutionally elected government in place in Iraq, a new phase is beginning - not only in Iraq, but also in the EU-Iraq relationship.

In this new phase, the EU will engage with Iraq in terms of a close political dialogue, through the opening of negotiations for a Trade and Cooperation Agreement - the first ever bilateral agreement between the EU and Iraq - and through an extensive assistance programme, focusing in particular on the priority sectors of basic services, rule of law and human rights.

The EU is also committed to participating actively in the development of the International Compact with Iraq. The EU's support for the Compact process was confirmed by the EU Foreign Ministers at their Council meeting last Friday. In our view, the Compact is rapidly establishing itself as the key forum for multilateral engagement with Iraq. At the same time, it is also a unique opportunity for domestic consensus-building within Iraq - an opportunity that should not be missed.

In its approach to the Compact process, the EU underlines the importance of achieving a balanced outcome, addressing all the key reform challenges outlined by the Iraqi and UN representatives in their presentations earlier. This means tackling not only the necessary economic reforms, but also the difficult but crucial questions related to the political and security sectors. These include in particular the urgent need to contain the sectarian violence and to advance on the National Reconciliation Plan. Transparency and inclusiveness of the preparatory process, as well as active participation of Iraq's neighbours and partners in the region, will also be essential for the Compact to succeed.

The EU strongly supports the central role of the UN as Co-Chair of the Compact and as advisor to Iraq, and warmly welcomes the valuable role played by the World Bank and the IMF in this process. We are encouraged by the progress made at the first meeting of the Preparatory Group in Abu Dhabi, and look forward to continuing discussions with the Iraqi government and all other partners over the coming weeks and months, as we work towards completion and adoption of the Compact. There is still a considerable amount of work ahead of us, but in this work, Iraq and the UN can count on the full support of the European Union.