BAGHDAD, June 9 (UPI) -- British Foreign Minister Jack Straw and EU officials arrived in Baghdad Thursday for a quick meeting with Iraqi officials on security and reconstruction.
Straw, who earlier visited Israel and the Palestinian territories, was joined by EU Foreign Affairs chief Javier Solana, EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn.
The European officials met with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani on Iraq's reconstruction, which is on the agenda of an EU-U.S. sponsored conference in Brussels on June 22.
"Our presence today underlines that the European Union is fully committed to a secure, stable, unified and democratic Iraq that will make a positive contribution to the stability of the region," said Solana.
The EU has pledged to train 770 Iraqi police officers and judges in a mission expected to start later this month. It has also earmarked almost $1.5 for humanitarian and reconstruction aid.
In London, a Foreign Office spokesman said Straw will also "urge Iraqi officials to include the Sunni community largely and effectively in the political process."
