Brussels, 20/08/2007 (Agence Europe) - In a press release publicised on 10 August, the Portuguese presidency of the European Union welcomed the results of “Iraq's Neighbouring Countries' Conference follow-up Security Working Group”, which took place in Damascus on 8-9 August. The presidency underlined the “need for the Security Working Group to convene regular meetings at the appropriate level in order to explore effective ways and take concrete measures aimed at stabilisation and reducing the violence in Iraq, through dialogue and cooperation. The international community, and in particular the States of the region, have the responsibility to support and promote the difficult process of national reconciliation and stabilisation in Iraq, and to prevent outside interference that could undermine this process”, notes the declaration. The presidency points out that the EU, “condemns in the strongest terms all forms of violence against the Iraqi population and supports a secure, stable, democratic, prosperous and unified Iraq as well as the efforts to promote national reconciliation, the restoration of public order and the rule of law”. (ol)