EU foreign policy chief says Iraq must address harassment of activists!

Erbil: The European Union’s foreign policy chief, visiting Baghdad, expressed concern about the security situation in the country ahead of Iraq’s upcoming elections, saying that violence against activists and media must be addressed.

Josep Borrell is in the country to meet with Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi and discuss cooperation between Iraq and the European Union. He is also expected to visit Erbil.

Iraq will hold parliamentary elections on October 10. Borrell said there are many security concerns that need to be addressed before the vote.

“There is no place for terrorism or rogue elements including Daesh (Islamic State, ISIS) in a sovereign country. There are also acts of violence and harassment against political activists, journalists, and human rights defenders. All these critical aspects of the security situation have to be addressed, especially as early parliamentary elections are approaching in October,” he said in a joint press conference with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein.

There are concerns in Iraq that the vote will not be free and fair because of the security concerns, the influence of powerful militias that operate outside of government control, threats against activists, and the possibility of fraud. Tens of activists have been killed in targeted assassinations, often with impunity, since October 2019.

Borrell also commended Iraq for its efforts to build bridges between nations in the Middle East and said the EU remains committed to providing strategic advice to Baghdad.

“I want to recognize the important role that Iraq plays as a constructive bridge-builder in the region. The Iraqi government has just demonstrated this by bringing together regional leaders in the Baghdad conference on 28th of August,” Borrell said. “We strongly believe that a stable and prosperous Iraq will benefit not only its people but the wider region and also the European Union.”

The Conference for Cooperation and Partnership, a summit held in Baghdad late last month in coordination with France, hosted heads of state and foreign ministers of Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as the heads of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Arab League, and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Borrell said the EU has provided over a billion euros in assistance to Iraq. “In the past seven years, we have provided more than 1.3 billion euros in financial cooperation in many fields, socioeconomics, security, and humanitarian,” he said.

The Iraqi foreign minister said that the visit was to enhance the relationship between Iraq and Europe.

“We have a partnership agreement with the European Union and this agreement was signed in 2012. It is related to different life aspects and work, and Europe as a continent and the European Union is very important for Iraq. It has historical, economic and political relations with Iraq, and many of the European countries are part of NATO and the Global coalition against ISIS,” Hussein said.

Borrell is scheduled to visit the Kurdistan Region on Tuesday, to meet with officials of the Region.

“There is a general and multi-topic agreement between Baghdad and the European Union. The Kurdistan Region is also part of that agreement and the head of the Union’s foreign policy is visiting Erbil and Baghdad for the purpose of the agreement’s progress,” the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) representative to the European Union, Dlawar Azhgayi told  on Monday.