Iraq, Ukraine Conflicts to Dominate EU Foreign Ministers Meeting

Local Editor

The conflicts in Iraq and Ukraine will dominate as the main themes of the European Union [EU] foreign ministers meeting which is to be held in Luxembourg on Monday.

Although Monday's meeting was to be devoted entirely to the conflict in Ukraine, yet another conflict has changed the plans of European Ministers.

At present, they are to examine the situation in Iraq where militants of a terrorist organization, the "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" [ISIL], have now seized a considerable part of northern Iraq, including the country's three large cities Fallujah, Mosul, and Tikrit.

Iraq is unlikely to expect large-scope assistance from the EU. The Europeans lack money and the efficiency of financial assistance to Iraq, the assistance on which the US has already spent more than a trillion of US dollars over the past decade, proved low.

Within the context of the Ukrainian crisis, the ministers are to consider the question of relations with Russia, including possible new sanctions.
The source said no decisions on economic sanctions would be taken on Monday.

Discussion may refer only to a certain extension of the European stop list of Russian and Ukrainian natural persons, who will be banned from entering the EU until November, and whose accounts at European banks [if such are discovered] are subject to a freeze.

"As far as economic sanctions are concerned, this question may be decided only at top level at an EU summit. If such necessity arises, the theme may be raised by EU Heads of State and Government at a meeting in Brussels on June 26-27," the European diplomat pointed out.

Moreover, the EU ministers are also to "compare notes" ahead of the signing of the economic segment of the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement. The segment is to be signed in Brussels on June 27 on the sidelines of the EU summit.

The ministers will review preparations for dispatch of an EU police mission to Ukraine in mid-July.

"The mission will be aimed at assisting Ukraine in effecting a judicial reform and reforming the system of internal affairs," the source emphasized. He said that in this respect an EU police mission would resemble a civil police mission for Kosovo [EULex].

Furthermore, the EU Council will also start discussing a European strategy for non-recognition of Crimea's accession to Russia. The strategy is intended to limit to the utmost the rights of the residents of the region in all relationships with Europe and reduce European business contacts with the Peninsula to the minimum.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team