WASHINGTON, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- The White House lauded the European Union Friday for reaffirming its pledge to help Iraq hold elections and rebuild itself, the White House said.
The 25-member EU promised Friday $38.6 million to help pay the costs for Iraqi elections in January and $33 million for security forces to protect United Nations aid workers in the country. The new funding was in addition to more than $370 million promised earlier for humanitarian and reconstruction help.
"The United States especially welcomes the EU's reaffirmation today of its
Commitment to assist in the emergence of a stable, secure, and democratic Iraq," Spokesman Scott McClellan said in a news release. "These steps are all important investments in Iraq's future."
The EU made the commitments in Brussels after a personal plea by Iraqi Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi.
U.S.-EU relations have been strained since the invasion of Iraq, which many EU states opposed.
EU President Jan Peter Balkenende of The Netherlands telephoned President Bush Friday and offered EU congratulations on his re-election.
