Brussels, 19/06/2013 (Agence Europe) - Visiting Iraq on 17 June, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton welcomed recent efforts to ease tension and called on all parties to work together to address political and governance issues through dialogue. Condemning the wave of attacks over recent weeks, Ashton called on all the political forces to create “a strong and common front against all forms of violence”. “Iraq's democracy and stability are important not only for Iraq itself but for the whole region”, she stated in a press release on 18 June, saying that “consolidation of democratic gains through strong and efficient institutions [is] a key element in any democracy”. Ashton also discussed the negative impact of the Syrian crisis and relations between Iraq and Kuwait.
Elsewhere, Ashton stated that the EU wants Iraq to be “an important political and economic partner” and hopes to strengthen bilateral relations. During her visit, she signed an agreement to make €4 million of EU financing available to fund the Iraq-EU Energy Centre. (CG/transl.fl)