EU supports Kurdistan in the war against terror

By Roni Alasor  / Middle East Diplomatic

Brussels, 15 August 2014 - While UN Security Council meeting condemned the countries financing or backing the Islamic fundamentalists (Islamic State), Foreign Ministries from 28 EU countries had an extraordinary meeting  in Brussels and they declared their support for Kurdistan Region in the war against jihadist terror. EU countries will support Kurdistan and Kurdish forces not only with logistic and humanitarian aid, but also in relation with political, security and military aspects.

All foreign ministries from 28 EU member countries, as well as EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Mrs Catherine Ashton, EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid Mrs Kristalina Georgieva, EU Commission Vice-President Mr Michel Barnier and Nikolay Mladenov, UN Special Representative for Iraq attended the extraordinary meeting in Brussels.

According EU anonymous sources who talked to Middle East Diplomatic (MED Diplomatic), in preparation of the five hours meeting, all EU foreign ministers came with reports drafted by their national intelligence and military services on Islamic terror and the Middle East. The ministers were briefed on the latest developments on IS terror against ethnical and religious minorities (Yezidi Kurds, Christians and Shia Muslims) in Mosul (Iraq) and in  Shengal mountains in Kurdistan. The ministers also discussed the situation in Syria and fundamentalist terror groups. They acknowledged the heavy fight of the Self-rule Kurdish Administration in Syria against terror groups in the last two years. The flow of terrorists from Europe to Syria and Iraq and their future return were among the ministers’ serious concerns.

The EU Foreign Affairs Council welcomed the decision by individual members to respond positively to the call by the Kurdish Regional President Massoud Barzani to provide urgently military material.  EU Ministers also welcomed the US air strikes and encouraged member states to provide all the necessary support.

The EU countries decided to work together, to share information and to support Kurdish forces and fighters with military supplies and intelligence information in the war against terror. EU Intelligence services reports confirmed that the EU weapon supplies to KRG don’t risk repeating the same situation as in Libya or Iraq where guns have been used later in internal conflicts, because KRG has stable, secure government and security system.

A closer cooperation between EU and Kurdistan Regional Government is also strongly advised, including stronger presence of the European External Action Service in Erbil. 

The Ministers expressed their concern about the humanitarian situation in the region, underlying KRG’s efforts to help round 1 million refugees. EU underlined the urgency of providing humanitarian aid, as well as committing additional European funds to help the local population attacked by IS gangs.

The EU Foreign Affairs Council decided to develop dialogue with regional countries (Turkey-Qatar-Saudi-Arabia, Syria, Jordan, Iran and Iraq), which have been involved in supporting terrorists, in order to reduce their influence, since the new terror threats in the Middle East have not only regional, but international impact.

In an background briefing meeting following the EU Council meeting, EU officials answered to the question of Middle East Diplomatic (MED Diplomatic) that the concrete help “will depend on the Kurdish authorities’ request, but as it has been agreed by all the EU member states, those countries who will be requested by Erbil, will be ready to fulfil these requests”.

EU Foreign Ministers also welcomed the nomination of Mr. Heider Al Abadi as Prime Minister-designate and expressed its continued support for the constitutional process.

COPYRIGTH : MED DIPLOMATIC