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Last Updated: Thursday, 9 June, 2005, 14:44 GMT 15:44 UK
Straw and Solana visiting Baghdad
Jack Straw
Mr Straw is travelling to the Middle East
The UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has met leaders in Baghdad as part of a visit to Iraq by a high level European Union delegation.

Mr Straw joined EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and other EU officials on the trip - his first to Iraq since its new government formed.

They met Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari.

Mr Straw said the visit showed Europe was putting its "bitter" divisions over the Iraq war behind it.

The talks come after Straw met Israeli and Palestinian leaders as part of a trip to the Middle East this week.

Conference preparations

EU external affairs commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Jean Asselborn, foreign minister of current EU president Luxembourg were also part of the delegation.

Mr Solana announced that the EU would help Iraq with "law and order" measures, including training judges and prison visitors.

A UK Foreign Office spokesman said the visit was designed to show support for the new transitional Iraqi government.

It also formed part of preparations for an international conference about Iraq to be hosted by the EU on 22 June.

The conference would bring together more than 80 countries to discuss issues such as how to improve coordination of money pledged to Iraq, the drafting of the new Iraqi constitution, reconstruction work, the economy and security.

Mr Straw said the visit was aimed at making sure the EU did not just talk about its commitment to Iraq, but produced a real commitment.

"Europe was divided on the Iraq war, bitterly divided," he said.

'Much to do'

"But the fact of this delegation from the European Union underlines the commitment and decision of the EU to put the past behind us and to look forward in a united way."

Mr Straw said having a democratically elected Iraqi Government had been a "dream" before the war but was now a reality.

He said he had "every confidence" that deadlines for agreeing a new constitution, holding a referendum and holding new elections in December would be met.

Mr Straw said there was still much to do, particularly on security.

A period of intense violence by anti-US insurgents has claimed hundreds of lives in Iraq in recent weeks.

Mr Asselborn praised the Iraqi people for their commitment to democratic values "under very difficult circumstances".

It was crucial to continue a process of inclusiveness and national dialogue, he added.





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