Luxembourg, 25/04/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Monday the External Relations Council discussed the next steps in the transition policy in Iraq. The president of the Council, Jean Assemborn, underlined to the press, “After the elections in January, the formation of a provisional government, with the important task of accompanying the process for elaborating a permanent constitution, is of course a very important step”. Mr Asselborn stated that on Monday the Council had reiterated its willingness to jointly organise an international conference on Iraq if the provisional Iraqi government wanted. He explained that for the time being things were not clear as the government had not yet been set up and no formal demand had been sent tot the EU. This conference “will be a support conference and not a donors' conference” and is likely to be to take place at the end of June in Brussels. Asselborn said that it is clear that the needs and wishes of the Iraqis had to be at the centre of such a conference. He also emphasised that close cooperation with Iraq on the Conference was essential, as well as with the UN, which occupied a key role in the transition process in Iraq. Asselborn stressed that, “We think that the conference could be the occasion for the Iraqi authorities to let us know about their medium and long term strategy for the country, including their ideas on the constitutional process, political, economic and social reconstruction in Iraq”. Ministers approved the conclusions on Iraq, highlighting the EU's desire to implement the complete assistance programme in an effort to “attain the objective of a safe, stable, united, prosperous, democratic Iraq, which was respectful of human rights” and which constructively cooperated with its neighbouring countries and the international community. The Council also said that it was prepared to establish political dialogue with the provisional Iraqi government, including at a ministerial level. The conclusions affirm that “depending on political developments in Iraq, a visit from the Troika to the provisional government…could contribute to the deepening of relations between the EU and Iraq in view of establishing regular political dialogue”.