Brussels, 15/09/2006 (Agence Europe) - EU foreign ministers on Friday reiterated their EU's support for an International Compact for Iraq. As with Afghanistan, International Pact of this sort would aim to bring the international community together to help build “a secure, unified, federal and democratic union, founded on the principles of freedom and equality, and providing peace and prosperity for its people”. The discussion and consultation process leading to this Pact was launched by the Iraqi government and the United Nations on 27 July. On 10 September, at a meeting of the Pact's preparatory group in Abu Dhabi, the Iraqi government presented a first draft, setting out the broad thrust of the Pact. The EU welcomed this draft text but highlighted several issues that it considered key, for example that it be inclusive, open to all interested parties in Iraq and to all economic, political and security issues, and also that the Iraqis themselves have and retain ownership of the process. “The EU reaffirms its readiness to participate actively in the Compact process, and encourages Iraq to further develop a balanced Compact in all its dimensions, through an inclusive consultation process at the national, regional and local levels. Domestic consensus building will assist in ensuring that the Compact responds to the needs of the Iraqi people, and help to secure commitment to its implementation by the Iraqi government and throughout Iraqi society.” The EU is awaiting with interest the continuation of discussions with the Iraqi government and other partners at ministerial meetings devoted to the Pact, to be held in New York and Singapore on 18 September 2006.