Brussels, 22/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - The president of the EU Council, Jean Asselborn explained (with US Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice at his side) at the opening of the Council that the international conference on Iraq, jointly organised by the EU/US on 22 June, provided “an important opportunity” for the provisional government to confirm Iraq's return to the large family of the international community. Rice insisted on the need to mobilise the international community and that this political mobilisation would be extended till mid July during the donors conference in Amman, Jordan. The conference is welcoming the bulk of the Iraqi government - the prime minister, Ibrahim Jaafari, representatives of the legislative and legal powers, as well as a large delegation of politicians supposed to reflect national consensus. Almost 80 countries: Syria, Jordan, Iran and Gulf States) and leaders of international and regional organisation were present. In first rank, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
The conference immediately had a double result, sealing Euro-US rapprochement in a concerted approach for reconstruction and stability in Iraq. It then offered the government elected last January international support for a return to a normal situation. Recommendations came from all round for the Iraqi government to get consensus in drafting a constitution and for organising a referendum for approving the text and, finally, for general elections planned at the end of the year. EU confidence in the provisional government was reaffirmed but remains cautious, “only an inclusive process will allow a sovereign and representative government to emerge…which should be pluralist and respectful of rights and freedoms of all”. The issue of security will also influence the timetable for aid implementation, notably that from the Europeans and prospects for opening a European Commission delegation in Baghdad.