During a phone conversation with Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Monday evening 16 October, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini called for restraint and dialogue.
"Federica Mogherini expressed concern about the reports of military operations by federal forces and the reported clashes", a press release from the European External Action Service stated. Mogherini thus "stressed the importance to [sic] avoid the use of force and to seek dialogue in order to preserve Iraq's unity and long-term stability while upholding the provisions of the Iraqi Constitution". She "expects all sides to sit down together and to engage in dialogue", the EEAS stated.
The Iraqi army is pressing in the region of Kirkuk, mainly without fighting, and has already taken roads, infrastructure and the two biggest oil fields in the region, following the retreat of the Kurdish forces. Its objective is to reimpose the authority of central government in areas where the forces of autonomous Kurdistan have been set up. Last month, the Kurds voted in favour of Kurdistan's independence (see EUROPE 11866). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant).