Brussels, 04/12/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 3 December, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini underlined the importance of the final agreement on the transfer of revenues and oil between the federal government of Iraq and the government of the Kurdistan Region.
“It is a significant step forward and an encouraging sign of continued resolve, leadership and willingness to compromise by all the parties involved”, Mogherini stated in a press release at the end of a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al Abadi and Iraqi Foreign Affairs Minister Ibrahimi al Jaafari. On 2 December, the Iraqi government and the autonomous region of Kurdistan concluded an agreement to settle their dispute over oil exports. Under the terms of the agreement, from the start of 2015 the autonomous region of Kurdistan will make 250,000 barrels of oil available per day for the federal government and 300,000 barrels will be transferred from the disputed province of Kirkuk. In return, the Iraqi government will pay the Kurdish government the devolved share of the national budget, and the Iraqi government committed to guaranteeing the Peshmergas $1 billion from the federal defence budget. This agreement is provisional and the two parties will continue to negotiate in order to resolve the outstanding issues.
Reaffirming the EU's support to the Iraqi government and to the efforts for reforms and national reconciliation, Mogherini expressed her willingness to visit Iraq “in the coming weeks”. She reiterated that the EU would continue to use “all the means available to support Iraq's efforts to preserve the unity, sovereignty and integrity of the country, achieve peace and security through a lasting political settlement, and contribute to socioeconomic development in the interest of all Iraqis”. Mogherini also reaffirmed the EU's commitment to work on humanitarian assistance and security aspects, and to address the threat represented by foreign fighters.
First meeting of coalition. The first meeting of the international coalition to fight Islamic State (IS) was held in Brussels on Wednesday 3 December. The coalition partners reaffirmed their commitment to work together using “a common, multi-faceted, long-term strategy” in order to beat IS. (CG)