WASHINGTON, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- President Bush said Friday he would continue to work with the European Union to secure Iraq before elections in January.
The comments came in a telephone conversation between Bush and Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, the present head of the European Council.
"The United States especially welcomes the EU's reaffirmation ... of its commitment to assist in the emergence of a stable, secure and democratic Iraq," White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan said.
Earlier Friday, the EU pledged financial support for Iraq's national election, scheduled for January, and met with interim Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi.
Major EU nations, with the exception of Britain and Italy, have refrained from sending troops to Iraq to assist the U.S.-led occupation. Washington wants to engage the international community to help in organizing successful elections in January that could pave the way to stability in Iraq.
