18/05/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 18 May, the Council welcomed extension of the mandate for the EU police mission in Iraq (EUJUST LEX), as well as the launch of the first pilot projects for this operation on Iraqi soil (until now, training of Iraqi magistrates was carried out on the territory of the member states involved). In conclusions adopted on Monday, the Council reiterated the EU's commitment in favour of establishing rule of law in Iraq, especially in the areas of policing, penitentiary administration and justice. The Council also welcomed the work carried out by the EU police mission in the Palestinian territories (EUPOL COPPS) and confirmed its willingness to redeploy the EU assistance mission at the Rafah border crossing (EUBAM RAfah), which has been closed since 2007. Furthermore, the two main Palestinian forces, Fatah and Hamas, announced on Sunday 17 May an agreement of principle on the creation of a joint security force in Gaza looking ahead to the regional elections in January 2010. (A.By./transl.jl)