On Tuesday 18 October, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini described the battle of Iraqi forces, supported by international coalition, as "crucial". These forces are seeking to retake control from so-called Islamic State (Daesh).
During a press conference at the end of the second EU-Iraq Cooperation Council, she asserted: "This cooperation is crucial in the campaign to defeat Daesh". Iraq's Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari emphasised the "very dangerous nature" of this offensive, adding that "military success against Daesh will significantly help security in Iraq and beyond because Daesh seeks to extend its tentacles throughout the four corners of the world… We will defend our people, the rest of the world and democracy."
Mogherini highlighted the need to protect the population in Iraq and said that "it is necessary to prioritise the protection of the civilian population during this campaign". There were some people who spoke out about the dangers of vengeance against civilians by government forces and the militias. Mogherinin added that "the great majority of the population of Mosul, a big, wealthy and complex city, is a victim of Daesh itself. Therefore we have agreed on the need to fully respect international humanitarian law and attempt to guarantee the protection of the city’s civilian population."
The Iraqi minister said that due to its size and different ethnic communities making up the city, Mosul was going to need "far more efforts to be made to liberate it". He affirmed that the Kurdish peshmergas and Shia militias were committed to limiting the damage as much as possible.
Mogherini pointed out that the EU was part of a coalition against Daesh, not only from a military but also from humanitarian point of view. She stated that "the EU is actively supporting this operation, for example, by providing humanitarian aid to Iraqi citizens who have had to flee within the country following the fighting, and by covering both the immediate and long-term needs, such as education for displaced children”. The EU has already provided €134 million in humanitarian aid to Iraq, including €50 million for Mosul. Mogherini also pointed out that stabilisation in the liberated zones was just as important as the campaign itself.
Although the campaign in Mosul somewhat replaced all the other subjects for discussion, Mogherini said that discussions had taken place with the Iraqi minister on the "peace and reconciliation consolidation process in a united and inclusive Iraqi state". The Cooperation Council emphasised that they needed political, economic and social inclusion, as well as to work towards strengthening democracy and human rights, stimulating the economy and trade, and ensuring that Iraq fully benefits from its potential in energy resources. The Europeans and Iraqis also discussed the follow-up to their cooperation, including the launch of a working group to explore cooperation on energy questions and the possibility of an informal dialogue on migration.
Fight against Daesh is a fight for humanity and dignity. At an expanded European Parliament foreign affairs committee meeting, the Iraqi minister again returned to the fight against Daesh and the battle of Mosul. He underlined to MEPs that "the response [against Islamic State] must be global and humane. One must not believe that Daesh is just an enemy of Iraq. It represents a challenge to humanity, a challenge for you and for us".
"We must try, through the war we are waging, to protect human dignity", he said, adding that the ongoing battle did not just involve Mosul or the Iraqi government but also a "humanist struggle". He explained that preparation for the offensive took time because it involved a lot of work on protecting civilians.
Al-Jaafari was keen to point out that this was not a sectarian battle between different Iraqi societies. He also criticised the distorted image created by the media in this connection. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)