Brussels, 23/05/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Monday the External Relations Council discussed preparations for the next international council supporting Iraq, which the EU and USA are organising in Brussels on 22 June. The idea of organising this conference was launched during the visit of President Bush to Brussels last February, on the condition that the Iraqi authorities expressed such a wish. On 17 May, the Iraqi minister of foreign affairs informed the Luxembourg presidency of the EU and the State Department in Washington that Iraq was obviously interested in holding such an event, to which Iraq's neighbouring countries would be invited, under the co-chairmanship of the EU and USA. Addressing the press, the president of the Council, Jean Asselborn said, “this conference will provide the occasion for the international community to demonstrate its support for the new Iraqi government during the transition period leading to the elections in December 2005 and political, economic and social reconstruction of the country. Iraq, will have the opportunity of putting across its long-term strategy, its governmental programme, its priorities and its ideas in areas such as constitutional processes and reconstruction of the rule of law”.