Brussels, 21/12/2010 (Agence Europe) - Catherine Ashton welcomes the new government in Iraq and states she is willing to work with Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki and his team. In a press release published on Tuesday 21 December, the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy underlines the EU's “strong commitment” to a “long-term partnership with Iraq”. Ashton “congratulates P M Al- Maliki and all political entities for having reached this agreement, which marks another important chapter in the democratic development of the country”. The high representative hopes and trusts that the new government “will do everything it can to ensure that Iraq continues on its path to lasting stability, advancing on issues of national reconciliation, proceeding with economic reconstruction and fostering constructive relations with its international partners and countries throughout the region. The EU will continue to support Iraq in its efforts to reconstruct the country and to build and consolidate its democratic political system”. (Com-Gp/transl.jl)