Iraq's plea for EU aid

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari appealed today for the European Union to help rebuild the country and establish democracy.

In their first meeting since the United States transferred power to the Iraqi government last month, foreign ministers from the 25 EU nations considered proposals for helping train the Iraqi police, preparing the elections and advising the government on setting up their administration and running ministries.

“We hope the European Union will stand by Iraq in this situation of reconstruction, as well as backing the political process and support us in organising the upcoming elections,” Zebari said as he arrived for talks with his EU counterparts in Brussels.

“We have a number of suggestions that we will inform the ministers about,” he said, adding that the new Iraqi government expected the EU to offer “serious backing”.

However, officials said plans for dispatching EU personnel were dependent on improved security in the country.

“We will explore together with him all the possibilities that we will give help, concrete help, substantial help to Iraq,” said Dutch Foreign Minister Ben Bot, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency. “We will discuss with him what is needed at this moment. He is the best placed to tell us where help is required.”

Zebari was also expected to have talks at Nato headquarters in Brussels to discuss the alliance’s offer to help train Iraq’s armed forces and other possible assistance.

The EU has committed to spend €300m in humanitarian and reconstruction aid for Iraq this year. A similar commitment is expected next year.