15/05/2006 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, the “General Affairs/External Relations” Council gave its backing to the rapid formation of a government of national unity in Iraq. This was essential to strengthen the stability of the country, stressed EU Foreign Ministers in their conclusions. They re-stated the will of the EU to cooperate actively with the new government to create a “safe, stable unified, prosperous and democratic Iraq” and to develop relations with Iraq through deepened political dialogue and negotiations on a trade and cooperation agreement. These negotiations could begin as soon as the government of national unity was in place, said diplomats. The Council also expressed its willingness to extend its current EUJUST LEX (Integrated Rule of Law) mission in Iraq, if the Iraqi authorities so wished.