Date of release : 31-01-2005

Policy area : General Affairs and External Relations

Event : General Affairs and External Relations Council

At the meeting of the "General Affairs and External Relations Council" held on 31 January in Brussels, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration and President in Office of the European Council, Jean Asselborn, made the following statement about the election held on 30 January in Iraq:

"At the Council meeting the ministers discussed the election held yesterday in Iraq, the first pluralistic election in that country since 1953. In this context, we paid tribute to the courage and resolve of the Iraqis who voted in the election despite the difficult security circumstances.

Our solidarity and compassion are with the families of the victims.

We welcome the fact that this election was able to take place under good conditions, considering the circumstances, and that voter turnout was high. I pay tribute to the courage and resolve of the Iraqis who voted, as this election is an important step on the road to democracy, freedom and peace for the Iraqi people.

The European Union welcomes the enormous efforts made by the Independent Election Commission of Iraq and its Iraqi personnel, as well as local observers, the Iraqi Interim Government, the UN, and everyone who made it possible for the election to be held within the time frames adopted by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1546.

The European Union reaffirmed its will to continue, together with the rest of the international community, to support Iraq on the road to stability, peace and democracy, notably during the next stage, the constitutional process. In this regard, we have underlined the importance of the full involvement of all groups of Iraqi society in this process.

The European Union is also determined to support the Iraqi authorities and people, primarily by strengthening the judicial system and by promoting the observance of the rule of law."