Luxembourg, 15/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - Meeting for their Council in Luxembourg on Monday, the foreign affairs ministers welcomed the announcement made by the Iraqi authorities that national elections will be held no later than January 2010 and that legislative and presidential elections will be held in the region of Kurdistan on 25 July 2009. These two election timeframes must be observed in order that the country can start out on the road to democratisation, the 27 stress in conclusions adopted on Monday. The EU is prepared once again to provide assistance over the course of these elections, the ministers stated. The Council also reaffirmed its support for the actions carried out by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) in providing aid for the Iraqi people and reconstructing the country. The situation regarding human rights, and more specifically for women and ethnic or religious minorities, continues to be of concern to the EU, the conclusions state. The Council welcomed considerable progress which has been made in negotiations between the EU and Iraq concerning a partnership and cooperation agreement. In their conclusions, the ministers stress that they hope these negotiations can be concluded "as quickly as possible". This agreement will be in the mutual interests of Iraq and the EU and will constitute a solid foundation stone to build upon the links between the two countries, the ministers stress. Additionally, the signature of the memorandum of understanding on energy cooperation will help to boost relations between the EU and Iraq still further, the Council states. (H.B./transl.fl)