Strategic partnership agreement to be signed with the EU next month
Translated by IRAQdirectory.com – [11/28/2009]
Sources close to the government said , indicating that the draft Convention will be signed by, the Iraqi Foreign Minister, Hoshyar Zebari, or his agent, Dr. Mohammed al-Haj Hammoud, and on the European side represented by Deputy Director General for Foreign Affairs of the European Commission Hicz Mancarelli.
The sources confirmed the completion of the draft Convention between the two sides, indicating that (draft Convention) currently under discussion by the Council of Ministers and European experts and consultants, to study it thoroughly before signing it initialed by both parties.
The bilateral negotiations between Iraq and the European Union was concluded in Brussels last week, after nine rounds of talks lasted more than two and a half years. According to sources, the draft Convention covers areas of “economic and trade, scientific and cultural rights, in addition to the energy represented by the oil and electricity, as well as sectors of human rights and combating terrorism and organized crime, money laundering, illegal immigration and the effects of theft and trafficking.”
Observers believe that the partnership agreement is a new road map for building relationships with the European Union to correct and repair the path of cooperation between the two sides, after being hit by these relations to the fluctuations during the dictatorial regime due to his reckless, noting at the same time that the agreement would send messages of comfort and confirmation that Iraq is ready to cooperate with everyone and not at the expense party without the other, in reference to the United States and Britain.
The sources pointed out that this agreement will also contribute, according to the Provisions of the terms and commitments in Europe in the development of ways of joint cooperation in the areas of trade and investment so as to ensure the integration of Iraq into the global economy provides opportunities for his recovery and progress, to advance its economy and the gradual transition to market economy.
Head of the Committee on Economics, investment and reconstruction in the House of Representatives, Dr. Haider Abadi value the agreement with the European Union, saying in a statement to “Al Sabah” that the Union currently represents one of the main capital of the world economy, which Iraq could move towards economic and wider investment out of the local domain to world.
Abbas al-Bayati, a member of the Security and Defense Committee in parliament, supported the signing of such agreements. Adding to “Al Sabah”: that partnership agreement with the European Union will help the country to pursue and arrest the wanted by Iraqi judiciary for their involvement in terrorist operations and corruption cases directly or indirectly, asserting the existence of a significant number of those who recruit suicide bombers to be sent to Iraq through the regional countries to kill innocent people, in some countries in Europe.
The Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has expressed for the new president of the European Union, Herman Van Rompuy in a letter sent to him recently, about the ambition that partnership agreement is signed between Iraq and the European Union as soon as possible.