EP president Schulz on the situation in Iraq

Commenting on the latest developments in Iraq, the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz i stated:

“On behalf of the European Parliament, I firmly condemn the terror and violence spread by the IS across Iraq and the Middle East, which has claimed so many innocent lives, including women and children.

I commend the international efforts aimed at giving shelter to the people fleeing IS violence, offering humanitarian relief and avoiding genocide, and further loss of lives. The European Union and its Member States must resolutely support all efforts which provide support and humanitarian aid to the affected people and suffocate the jihadi networks which pose a global threat.

Abdu Bakr al-Baghdadi has created a system of terror targeting religious and cultural minorities, which knows no justice and no mercy. It must be stopped.

All the moderate forces within Iraq and the international community must coalesce, setting aside their divisions, to stop IS’ deadly plan, reconcile Iraqis and put an end to the spiral of terror and the erosion of the Iraqi state.

I support the efforts of the Iraqi President Fuad Masum to create an inclusive government for all the Iraqi citizens. In this crucial phase for the future of Iraq, the interest of the country and of its citizens cannot be trumped by personal interests: inclusiveness must be the guiding principle to reverse the polarization of the country on which IS has thrived.

The EU neighbourhood is on all sides under the strain of terrorists and extremists who through death and violence aim to subjugate people, redraw maps and suffocate democratic transition. More than ever the EU needs a strong common foreign policy to help those espousing democracy in these countries, and increase security, stability and prosperity.